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Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press

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Extracted body text (may be empty if the page could not be fetched)
has_text
1 if body text was successfully extracted
date_source
How the publication date was determined
bioguide_id
Bioguide ID of the member

1,516 rows where chamber = "Senate" and state = "MA" sorted by date descending

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  • MA · 1,516 ✖

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url title date ▲ year month party chamber state member_name bioguide_id domain scraper source date_source text has_text collected_at updated_at
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/as-gas-prices-remain-high-due-to-illegal-war-in-iran-senator-markey-slams-trump-for-rollback-of-fuel-economy-standards-that-save-money-lower-emissions As Gas Prices Remain High Due to Illegal War in Iran, Senator Markey Slams Trump for Rollback of Fuel Economy Standards That Save Money, Lower Emissions 2026-09-28 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Washington (September 28, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey, a senior member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, today released the following statement after President Donald Trump announced new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, under which automakers will only have to achieve an average fleetwide fuel economy standard of 34.5 miles per gallon by 2031. This is more than thirty percent lower than the previous standards, which required manufacturers to achieve an average fleetwide fuel economy of 50.4 miles per gallon by 2031—a standard that would have continued to save drivers money, given drivers more fuel-efficient choices at the dealership, and cut our national dependence on globally priced oil. “Strong fuel economy standards mean that Americans spend less at the gas pump, our country imports less foreign oil, drivers can choose better options at the dealership, and we are better protected from pollution, price spikes, and climate change,” said Senator Markey. “Trump’s economic and foreign policy crises are already leaving families underwater from rising gas prices—and by attacking fuel economy standards, he’s also setting fire to the lifeboat.” Senator Markey has been a fuel economy champion since standards were enabled by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which included fuel economy language co-authored by then-Rep. Markey. That law included Markey’s language that said the standard must be at least 35 mpg by 2020, and that the “maximum feasible standard” must be set every year. In June, Senator Markey introduced the Gas Money Saved Act, legislation that would require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to examine whether it can strengthen CAFE standards during periods of skyrocketing gas prices. The legislation would also reinstate the penalties for automakers that fail to produce fuel-efficient vehicles as options for American drivers, which were removed as part of the giveaways to corporations and the super-rich in the Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill in 2025. In Feb… 1 2026-09-29T11:07:12Z 2026-09-29T11:08:49Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-markey-and-reps-jayapal-larsen-announce-legislation-to-expand-workforce-opportunities-for-communities-impacted-by-substance-use Sen. Markey and Reps. Jayapal, Larsen Announce Legislation to Expand Workforce Opportunities for Communities Impacted by Substance Use 2026-09-25 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Bill Text (PDF) Washington (September 25, 2026) - In recognition of National Recovery Month, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today announced the reintroduction of the Workforce Opportunities for Communities in Recovery Act, legislation that would strengthen and expand grants for community partnerships that promote employment opportunities for workers in recovery and support communities affected by widespread substance use. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Rick Larsen (WA-02) lead the legislation in the House of Representatives. “For National Recovery Month, we celebrate those working to achieve and maintain recovery from addiction, and everyone who helped them along the way. Especially as families struggle to get ahead, it’s more important than ever that we help people in recovery overcome barriers to employment,” said Senator Markey. “This legislation will strengthen community partnerships that connect people with good jobs, peer support, and mentorship, supporting lasting recovery and helping communities heal.” “Addiction and substance use are deeply tied to economic instability and the shortage of behavioral health professionals,” said Congresswoman Jayapal. “Our bill takes these issues head on by investing in local organizations that help those affected by substance use gain employment and empower more people to pursue the behavioral health field. By promoting economic stability and increasing the number of healthcare specialists, we can get to the root of the substance abuse crisis and help communities across the country.” “The opioid epidemic continues to devastate communities in Northwest Washington,” said Rep. Larsen. “This legislation would break down barriers to employment for people in recovery and fund local organizations to address the nationwide behavioral health workforce shortage. I will keep working to get this bill over the finish line and to regain momentum in the fight against the opioid crisis.”… 1 2026-09-26T09:43:57Z 2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-markey-and-merkley-lead-colleagues-to-demand-trump-administration-abandon-reckless-saudi-nuclear-deal Senators Markey and Merkley Lead Colleagues to Demand Trump Administration Abandon Reckless Saudi Nuclear Deal 2026-09-25 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Trump deal caves to Saudi demands, fails “Gold Standard” test Letter Text (PDF) Washington (September 25, 2026) - Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), co-chairs of the bicameral Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group, today sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding that the Trump administration abandon its reckless nuclear deal with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which fails the Gold Standard nonproliferation test by surrendering two key conditions: the strictest inspection standards under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s Additional Protocol and denying Saudi Arabia the means to produce weapons-grade nuclear materials through uranium enrichment and/or plutonium reprocessing. The letter was signed by Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). As a U.S. Senator, Marco Rubio was among the most consistent voices warning about the dangers of giving Saudi Arabia, whose leaders have repeatedly threatened to pursue nuclear weapons, access to sensitive nuclear technology without proper safeguards. In the letter, the senators wrote, “With this deal, the Trump Administration is departing from precedent, adopting looser restrictions, and caving to Saudi demands by agreeing to a process that is all but certain to allow Riyadh to acquire the means to enrich uranium and possibly develop nuclear weapons. If the Administration is serious about preventing that outcome, it should require Riyadh to meet the Gold Standard. And likewise, if Saudi Arabia genuinely has no intention of pursuing a nuclear weapon, it should have little objection to accepting the same commitments that the UAE and other states have made: implementing an Additional Protocol and banning enrichment and reprocessing.” The senators continued, “Although not included in the agreement, media reports have suggested that the Saudi government would not have access to a U.S.-supplied and operated enrichment plant on Saudi soil. While there is no ev… 1 2026-09-26T09:43:57Z 2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-markey-merkley-and-reps-jayapal-tlaib-pressley-reintroduce-legislation-to-halt-government-use-of-facial-recognition-and-other-biometric-technology Sens. Markey, Merkley and Reps. Jayapal, Tlaib, Pressley Reintroduce Legislation to Halt Government Use of Facial Recognition and Other Biometric Technology 2026-09-25 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Bill Text (PDF) Washington (September 25, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), announced the reintroduction of the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act, legislation to prohibit the government from using facial recognition and other biometric technologies. The legislation responds to the federal government’s growing use of biometric recognition technology, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) mobile facial recognition app, which has been used to target immigrants and intimidate communities across the country. Research shows that nearly half of U.S. adults’ faces are already stored in facial recognition databases, and that Black, Brown, and Asian individuals are up to 100 times more likely to be misidentified by a facial recognition algorithm than white men. “Facial recognition and other biometric technologies in the hands of government agencies have become tools of authoritarianism. Agencies such as ICE and CBP are using this technology to track, target, intimidate and surveil communities across the country,”said Senator Markey. “Black and Brown communities — already subject to the most aggressive policing and immigration enforcement — are disproportionately affected and more likely to be wrongly flagged, detained, or targeted by a faulty facial recognition match. We must stop the Trump administration’s growing web of surveillance technology, and that starts with a moratorium on dangerous, discriminatory biometric recognition.” “Every American who values their right to privacy, stands against discrimination, and believes people are innocent until proven guilty should be concerned about facial recognition technology fueling a national surveillance state,” said Senator Merkley. “Enacting a federal moratorium on this technology is critical t… 1 2026-09-26T09:43:57Z 2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/as-ai-agents-carry-out-attacks-senator-markey-introduces-legislation-establishing-independent-body-to-investigate-cyber-hacks-assisted-by-artificial-intelligence As AI Agents Carry Out Attacks, Senator Markey Introduces Legislation Establishing Independent Body to Investigate Cyber Hacks Assisted by Artificial Intelligence 2026-09-24 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Bill Text (PDF) Washington (September 24, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today introduced the Cybersecurity and AI Board of Investigations Act, legislation that would establish an independent board to investigate major cybersecurity incidents impacting critical infrastructure, including those enabled by artificial intelligence (AI). This bill establishes the Cybersecurity and AI Board of Investigations with subpoena authority, akin to the National Transportation Safety Board, to demand answers from companies and government agencies involved in major cybersecurity incidents and to deliver clear assessments of cyber threats and measures to prevent such threats. “Despite the unprecedented depth and scale of recent AI-enabled cyber attacks, the public is learning critical details piecemeal,” said Senator Markey. “Building stronger defenses requires a full accounting of what goes wrong, and we cannot depend on companies with little incentive to disclose their failures to give us one. We need the Cybersecurity and AI Board of Investigations to get to the bottom of major incidents and give companies and the government the critical information necessary to build resilience and better secure our economy and our country.” With the advancement and increasing accessibility of AI, bad actors can increase the volume and sophistication of attacks targeting our economic and national security. AI agents are now carrying out attacks without human initiation or oversight — in one incident this July, OpenAI’s AI agents circumvented a testing environment leading to a cyberattack on Hugging Face. Although OpenAI granted independent researchers access to assess the incident, the limited scope of access, data, and time provided to researchers prevented them from completing a full evaluation—including an assessment of OpenAI’s own safeguards. The Cybersecurity and AI Board of Investigations Act responds to these trends by granting the Board subpoena power, str… 1 2026-09-25T10:04:52Z 2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-ocasio-cortez-reintroduce-civilian-climate-corps-for-jobs-and-justice-to-rebuild-america Markey, Ocasio-Cortez Reintroduce Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice to Rebuild America 2026-09-24 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Bill Text (PDF) | One Pager (PDF) Washington (September 24, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) today reintroduced the Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act, legislation that would establish a Civilian Climate Corps (CCC), administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service within AmeriCorps, which follows in the footsteps of the New Deal-era Civilian Conservation Corps, with important equitable updates. The CCC would provide good-paying service opportunities to a diverse group of 1.5 million Americans over five years to complete clean energy, climate resilience, environmental remediation, conservation, and sustainable infrastructure projects, while providing transformational educational benefits and career pathways in good union jobs. “As Americans face frequent extreme weather disasters, a job market disrupted by the expansion of artificial intelligence, and other economic challenges, the Civilian Climate Corps presents an opportunity to support meaningful job opportunities and efforts to combat the climate crisis,” said Senator Markey. “I am proud to work with Representative Ocasio-Cortez to continue to fight for this program, which would provide an opportunity for more than a million Americans—especially young people—from every walk of life to earn a good wage while serving their communities and working toward a climate-resilient future.” “The impacts of the climate crisis are being felt across our country, with extreme weather events taking lives and causing billions in devastating losses. We need a massive public investment to combat the toll of wildfires, floods, and hurricanes. That is why I am proud to reintroduce the Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act alongside Senator Ed Markey, which puts 1.5 million people to work forging climate-resilient communities. The urgency of this moment requires us to respond with robust and reliable solutions,” said Representative Ocasio-Cortez. The Civilian Climate Corps fo… 1 2026-09-25T10:04:52Z 2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/as-home-heating-season-approaches-senator-markey-joins-colleagues-to-urge-trump-admin-to-swiftly-release-liheap-funding As Home-Heating Season Approaches, Senator Markey Joins Colleagues to Urge Trump Admin to Swiftly Release LIHEAP Funding 2026-09-18 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Letter Text (PDF) Washington (September 18, 2026) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) this week joined Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) in a bipartisan push for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as swiftly and at the highest level possible. Appropriators worked on a bipartisan basis to make roughly $4 billion in federal LIHEAP funds available for the coming year. The senators call on HHS to swiftly distribute LIHEAP aid before winter home-heating bills arrive in order to help states and eligible households manage their energy costs. LIHEAP provides financial assistance to income-eligible homeowners and renters to help with energy bills and for reconnection of energy service. The program is targeted to assist vulnerable households facing high energy burdens—the share of a household’s income that goes toward their energy bills. Low-income homes generally spend the biggest percentage of their income on utility bills. However, factors such as income, weather, housing stock, fuel type, and energy-efficiency can all impact a household’s energy burden. “As you know, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act for Fiscal Year 2027 (P.L. 119-103) requires the Department of Health and Human Services to distribute no less than 90 percent of its total LIHEAP allotment by November 1, 2026. Given the extraordinary pressure consumers will face this winter, we ask that you make this distribution well before the deadline,” the 31 U.S. Senators wrote. In addition to Senators Markey, Reed, Collins, and Murkowski, the letter was signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Chris Coons (D-Del), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Angus King (I-Maine), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-N.M.), Chuck Schumer (… 1 2026-09-19T09:11:33Z 2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-markey-leader-schumer-rep-cohen-reintroduce-legislation-to-give-airline-passengers-right-to-cash-refunds-for-significant-flight-delays-cancellations Sen. Markey, Leader Schumer, Rep. Cohen Reintroduce Legislation to Give Airline Passengers Right to Cash Refunds for Significant Flight Delays, Cancellations 2026-09-18 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Bill Text (PDF) Washington (September 18, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), this week reintroduced the Cash Refunds for Flight Cancellations Act, legislation that would require major airlines to give passengers a cash refund if the airline cancels or significantly delays their flight, and creates a new right for consumers to receive a cash refund if the passenger cancels their flight up to 48 hours ahead of the flight’s scheduled departure. Senator Markey fought hard to ensure the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 included several provisions requiring airlines to provide refunds to consumers when delays or cancellations are the fault of the airline. The law also required that vouchers offered in lieu of a refund be valid for at least five years. The Cash Refunds for Flight Cancellations Act reaffirms and builds on these important provisions. “For too long, passengers have been told to cover the cost of the airlines’ mistakes, while also paying exorbitant fees for carry-on bags or seat selection. No more,” said Senator Markey. “In 2023, the Biden administration took one step forward and adopted my rule to compensate passengers for flight delays and cancellations, but the Trump administration took three steps back and pandered to the airline CEO billionaires. It’s time to make the refunds permanent and stop airlines from soaring away with travelers’ hard-earned cash.” “When travelers pay for a ticket, they deserve the basic guarantee that if the airline fails to deliver the flight they paid for, they can get their hard-earned cash back,” said Leader Schumer. “The Trump administration has repeatedly put airlines’ profits over the pocket books of American passengers, leaving families holding the bag by rolling back commonsense consumer protections. If an airline cancels your flight or significantly delays your trip, you should get your money back—end of story.” “Th… 1 2026-09-19T09:11:33Z 2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-markey-rep-cohen-reintroduces-legislation-to-stop-bloated-airline-fees-and-expand-passenger-protections Sen. Markey, Rep. Cohen Reintroduces Legislation to Stop Bloated Airline Fees and Expand Passenger Protections 2026-09-18 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Bill Text (PDF) Washington (September 18, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, this week reintroduced the Forbidding Airlines from Imposing Ridiculous (FAIR) Fees Act, legislation that would require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to set a rule preventing airlines from setting bloated fees that far exceed the costs incurred by the airlines. Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) leads the legislation in the House of Representatives. “It’s outrageous that travelers have to pay a small fortune in fees for a carry-on bag or to sit with their children, when the true cost to the airlines is far less than what they charge in hidden fees,” said Senator Markey. “As airlines take their ridiculous fees to new heights, I’m proud to reintroduce the FAIR Fees Act, an important step to slash excessive airline fees, enact cost-saving protections, and put consumers first instead of airline CEO billionaires.” “Air travelers frequently tell me about unreasonable fees for schedule changes or baggage fees that appear out of line with the likely true cost to the airlines for providing these services. It’s well past time we have an objective assessment of these fees with the expectation that they will either be justified as reasonable or reduced or eliminated,” said Congressman Cohen. “The process of buying a plane ticket has become bloated with hidden fees at every turn,” said John Breyault, Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud at National Consumers League. “Many of these charges are inflated beyond any tangible cost associated with providing the service and exist solely to pad carriers’ earnings. The FAIR Fees Act would significantly rein in this practice and protect consumers from incessant nickel and diming.” “We all know air travelers are subject to severe sticker shock when junk fees are added to base fares,” said William J. McGee, Senior Fellow for Aviation & Travel at American Economic Liberties Project. “But there are also pro… 1 2026-09-19T09:11:33Z 2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-and-senator-budd-introduce-bipartisan-resolution-condemning-chinas-wrongful-detention-of-american-academics-including-massachusetts-constituent-dr-youlin-chen Senator Markey and Senator Budd Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Condemning China’s Wrongful Detention of American Academics, Including Massachusetts Constituent Dr. Youlin Chen 2026-09-17 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Resolution Text (PDF) Washington (September 17, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.), along with Senator John Curtis (R-Utah) and Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), today introduced a bipartisan resolution that condemns the People’s Republic of China’s repeated pattern of arbitrary or wrongful detention of American academics and urges the United States government to prioritize the safe return of all United States citizens wrongfully detained in China, including Massachusetts resident and academic Dr. Youlin Chen, and American scholar Min Zin. Congressman Stephen Lynch (MA-08) and Congressman John Moolenaar, Chairman of the House Select Committee on China (MI-02), led a companion resolution in the House of Representatives. The resolution expresses that the Senate: Condemns the People’s Republic of China’s repeated pattern of arbitrary or wrongful detention of United States citizens. Urges the United States government to make the safe return of United States citizens detained in China a top priority, including the return of Dr. Chen and Min Zin. Urges the Secretary of State to use all available tools to press for the release of all United States nationals being unlawfully or wrongfully detained in the People’s Republic of China. “The wrongful detainment of innocent civilians is never justifiable and should always be condemned in the strongest possible terms. We owe it to the American people to stand up and speak out when our citizens are wrongfully detained in foreign prisons. It is my hope that this bipartisan resolution from the United States Congress will bring increased attention to the unjust detention of Dr. Youlin Chen and Min Zin and force the Chinese government to do the right thing and release them immediately. I am praying for Dr. Chen, Mr. Zin, and their families today,” said Senator Markey. “The Chinese Communist Party’s pattern of unjustly detaining innocent Americans on baseless allegations cannot carry on unchecked. It is long past time for the CCP to return A… 1 2026-09-18T09:27:43Z 2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-introduces-joint-resolution-of-disapproval-on-us-weapons-sales-to-saudi-arabia Senator Markey Introduces Joint Resolution of Disapproval on U.S. Weapons Sales to Saudi Arabia 2026-09-17 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Resolution Text (PDF) Washington (September 17, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), co-chairs of the bicameral Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group, along with Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), this week introduced a joint resolution of disapproval (JRD) for the Trump administration’s proposed sale of conventional weapons to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The weapons include thousands of joint direct attack munitions (JDAMs) and five thousand 2,000-pound bombs. Separately, the Trump administration recently submitted an agreement on U.S.-Saudi nuclear cooperation to Congress—as is required by law—but has classified two important side letters, which is unprecedented. Because the side letters affect the obligations and operation of the underlying agreement, Congress and the public cannot fully assess what the United States and Saudi Arabia have agreed to without seeing them. On September 16, Senators Markey and Merkley led a bipartisan group of senators to press the Trump administration to declassify and publicly release the two side letters accompanying the proposed U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear cooperation agreement, referred to as a “123 agreement.” “The United States must not send thousands of conventional weapons to Saudi Arabia or allow it to develop a nuclear program. I am deeply concerned by the Kingdom’s human rights abuses, the security of the region as the war in Iran rages on, and the proxy war that is escalating between Iran and Saudi Arabia in Yemen. Further escalation in the Saudi-Iran proxy war will worsen an already dire humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen and risks setting off a nuclear arms race between Iran and Saudi Arabia,” said Senator Markey. As a founder of the national Nuclear Freeze movement, Senator Markey has long been the Congressional leader on ending the proliferation of nuclear weapons. On July 31, Senators Markey and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) along with Representatives John Garamendi (CA-08) and Don Beyer (VA-08), co-chairs of the Nuclear We… 1 2026-09-18T09:27:43Z 2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-merkley-bipartisan-group-of-senators-trump-administration-must-release-all-documents-from-us-saudi-nuclear-deal Markey, Merkley, Bipartisan Group of Senators: Trump Administration Must Release All Documents from U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Deal 2026-09-16 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Letter Text (PDF) Washington (September 16, 2026) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), co-chairs of the bicameral Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group, today led a bipartisan group of Senators to press the Trump administration to declassify and publicly release the two side letters accompanying the proposed U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear cooperation agreement, referred to as a “123 agreement.” The Trump administration recently submitted the 123 agreement to Congress—as is required by law—but while the agreement references the side letters, the letters themselves are classified at the lowest possible level, which is unprecedented. Because the side letters affect the obligations and operation of the underlying agreement, Congress and the public cannot fully assess what the United States and Saudi Arabia have agreed to without seeing them. “Congress has a statutory responsibility under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act to review the proposed nuclear deal, which seeks to facilitate nuclear cooperation with significant implications for U.S. national security interests. Access to the full text is required for the Senate and the public to have a clear understanding of the commitments being made on the nation’s behalf and those being made by Saudi Arabia to the United States,” wrote the bipartisan group of Senators in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “The side letters affect the obligations and operations of the underlying agreement and cannot be viewed in isolation from it; the President’s own transmission letter to Congress states that the agreement “…was concluded with two accompanying side letters.” Their public release would also allow civil society, independent experts, and other affected stakeholders to scrutinize the deal.” They emphasized, “Transparency and open debate are cornerstones of our democracy. Congress and the American public must have a meaningful opportunity to review and debate the key components … 1 2026-09-17T09:52:05Z 2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-markey-and-cruz-applaud-house-passage-of-legislation-to-keep-am-radio-in-new-vehicles Sens. Markey and Cruz Applaud House Passage of Legislation to Keep AM Radio in New Vehicles 2026-09-16 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Washington (September 16, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Commerce Committee, today celebrated the House of Representatives’ passage of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, bipartisan and bicameral legislation that would require automakers to include AM broadcast radio in their new vehicles at no additional charge. House passage comes after Senators Markey and Cruz secured 60 cosponsors in the Senate earlier this year. “This vote sends a clear message to car manufacturers that AM Radio is a lifeline that must be protected in new vehicles. From emergency response to sports, entertainment, and news, AM radio is an essential communication tool for tens of millions of Americans. It is now time for the Senate to pass the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act and for this legislation to become law so AM radio remains a trusted and essential resource for commuters and communities across the country.” In April 2025, Senators Markey and Cruz celebrated securing a filibuster-proof 60 Senate cosponsors for the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. The legislation passed through the Senate Commerce Committee in February 2025. ### 1 2026-09-17T09:52:05Z 2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-statement-on-epas-repeal-of-power-plant-greenhouse-gas-emission-standards-and-proposal-to-abdicate-responsibility-for-addressing-the-danger-of-climate-change-from-the-power-sector Senator Markey Statement on EPA’s Repeal of Power Plant Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards and Proposal to Abdicate Responsibility for Addressing the Danger of Climate Change from the Power Sector 2026-09-14 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Washington (September 14, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee and a co-chair of the Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, today released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized its repeal of the 2024 greenhouse gas emission standards for existing coal-fired and new natural gas-fired power plants and announced that it no longer plans to regulate greenhouse gas pollution from power plants, a major driver of climate change. “By rejecting the EPA’s responsibility to regulate climate change caused by greenhouse gas pollution from power plants, Trump and Zeldin are defying the laws of this country, the laws of physics, and the law of common sense. Their Polluters First Agenda passes the very real costs of a more dangerous environment and a more extreme climate onto working families. This is a slap in the face to anyone who has lost their home to wildfires or was washed out by an extreme storm. It is a slap in the face to parents who want their kids to breathe clean air, not suffer from asthma or heat stroke. And it is a slap in the face to anyone who put trust into the Environmental Protection Agency to uphold its mission to protect human health and the environment, not protect corporate polluter profits. We don’t need dirty power when we have the solutions and can get cheap, clean megawatts on the grid, and we don’t need dirty politicians overruling the scientific necessity of action.” This move follows the Trump EPA’s elimination of the Endangerment Finding, the determination that affirms the scientific risks of climate change and requires federal action to protect Americans from harm. The Trump EPA has also eliminated greenhouse gas emission standards for cars and trucks and slashed protections against mercury, soot, and other dangerous emissions from the power sector. In addition to specific rollbacks of statutorily-required protections, the EPA has also stopped accounting for the public health benefits of regu… 1 2026-09-15T09:50:21Z 2026-09-15T09:52:05Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-statement-ahead-of-25th-anniversary-of-9/11-terror-attacks Senator Markey Statement Ahead of 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Terror Attacks 2026-09-10 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Senator’s FASTER Act would ensure airline security fees bolster aviation safety Markey is author of mandate in law passed after 9/11 that requires screening of all cargo on passenger plans before being loaded onboard Washington (September 10, 2026) - Ahead of the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, released the following statement honoring the victims and calling for passage of his Funding for Aviation Screeners and Threat Elimination Restoration (FASTER) Act to bolster funding for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and its workforce, ensuring that the agency has the necessary funds and resources to secure America’s air travelers and pay its dedicated Transportation Security Officers (TSO), and invest in twenty-first century security technology. In 2013, Congress began diverting one-third of the revenue collected from an airline passenger security fee—known as the September 11 Security Fee, as it was established after the September 11 terrorist attacks—to pay for unrelated government spending; each year, this diverted funding totals over $1 billion. The FASTER Act would eliminate this diversion, ensure passenger security fees go solely toward aviation security, and prevent Congress from raiding the funds in the future. The legislation would also give TSA access to September 11 Security Fee revenue during a lapse in appropriations. “Everyone in this country felt unspeakable loss that tragic day 25 years ago, with a direct and profound impact on victims’ families in Massachusetts. The planes took off from Logan Airport in Boston with hundreds of passengers and crewmembers, and our communities were forever changed. We honor the memory of the nearly 3,000 people we lost on 9/11, remember the strength and resilience of the American people after the attacks, and recommit to ensuring that the scale and horror of such a tragedy never occurs again,” said Senator Markey. “The TSA must be able t… 1 2026-09-11T09:25:29Z 2026-09-11T09:27:08Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-statement-on-temporary-protected-status-designation-for-el-salvador Senator Markey Statement on Temporary Protected Status Designation for El Salvador 2026-09-09 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Massachusetts is home to more than 7,000 Salvadoran TPS holders Washington (September 9, 2026) — Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement today after the Trump administration temporarily kept in place Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for El Salvador despite planning to end protections today. El Salvador continues to face severe environmental and humanitarian challenges, including an ongoing drought and recurring extreme weather and flooding, as well as other political conditions that make terminating protections cruel and potentially life threatening. The vast majority of Salvadoran TPS holders have children born in the United States. “The Trump administration may have given El Salvador TPS holders a temporary reprieve but given its repeated attacks on TPS holders from other countries — who have legally lived, worked, and built their lives here for decades — agonizing uncertainty remains for Salvadorans. Congress must pass the SECURE Act to provide a permanent pathway to citizenship for TPS holders. We bear a fierce responsibility to protect children, keep families safely together, and defeat Trump’s relentless assault on our neighbors and loved ones.” Senator Markey is a co-sponsor of the Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and Emergency (SECURE) Act, which would provide qualified TPS and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients a path to legal permanent residency. ### 1 2026-09-10T09:25:58Z 2026-09-10T09:27:09Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-joins-padilla-schumer-all-senate-democrats-to-urge-supreme-court-to-block-postal-service-rule-limiting-mail-in-voting Markey Joins Padilla, Schumer, All Senate Democrats to Urge Supreme Court to Block Postal Service Rule Limiting Mail-In Voting 2026-09-08 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper 261 Members and former Members file bicameral, bipartisan brief as court order barring Postal Service rule limiting mail voting is being challenged by Trump’s DOJ Washington (September 8, 2026) — Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today joined Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gary Peters (D-Mich.), along with Representative Joe Morelle (NY-25), Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration, and Co-Chairs of the House Democrats’ Litigation Task Force Oversight Ranking Member Robert Garcia (CA-42), Assistant Leader Joe Neguse (CO-02), and Judiciary Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (MD-08), in leading a bicameral amicus brief challenging the legality of President Trump’s Executive Order and U.S. Postal Service rule seeking to exert control over mail-in ballots ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The amicus brief was also joined by the entire Senate Democratic Caucus. The group, made up of a bipartisan, bicameral coalition of 261 lawmakers and former lawmakers, filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the matter of State of California, et al. v. United States Postal Service, et al., a lawsuit brought by a coalition of State Attorneys General against the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). The court case challenges a final rule issued by the USPS pursuant to Trump’s directive that imposes unconstitutional and unworkable restrictions on mail-in voting, including requiring states to provide a “citizenship verification list” and attempting to give USPS control over who can vote by mail. Nearly one-third of Americans have voted by mail in recent elections — a voting practice Trump himself used as recently as August 2026, when he voted in Florida’s Republican primary. In the court filing, the amici curiae argue that Trump’s Executive Order 4399 and USPS’… 1 2026-09-09T09:27:09Z 2026-09-09T09:29:04Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-markey-blumenthal-representatives-schakowsky-mullin-press-consumer-product-safety-commission-to-halt-sweeping-and-invasive-data-collection-on-emergency-department-patients Senators Markey, Blumenthal, Representatives Schakowsky, Mullin Press Consumer Product Safety Commission to Halt Sweeping and Invasive Data Collection on Emergency Department Patients 2026-09-03 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Letter Text (PDF) Boston (September 3, 2026) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), top Democrat on the Primary Health and Retirement Security Subcommittee of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, along with Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) and Kevin Mullin (CA-15), today wrote to Peter Feldman, Acting Chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), calling on the Commission to immediately suspend efforts to pressure some of the nation’s largest hospital systems to hand over the detailed, personally identifiable medical records of every patient who visits their emergency departments. Recent reporting has revealed that the Commission is directing hospitals to transmit sensitive records—including patient names, birthdates, addresses, and diagnoses—to its private contractor as part of changes to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). For decades, hospitals across the country have voluntarily participated in NEISS to report injuries involving consumer products, such as kitchen appliances and toys, to help identify products with a pattern of injuring consumers. But now, the Commission is amassing an unprecedented trove of identifiable health data of emergency department patients, regardless of whether an injury involved a consumer product. This sweeping data collection initiative is particularly alarming considering the Trump administration’s broader pattern of amassing Americans’ sensitive data and repurposing it to advance political priorities. In the letter, the lawmakers raised concerns regarding the necessity and legality of this initiative, the adequacy of its privacy protections, and the purposes to which this trove of sensitive data may ultimately be put. Cosigners of the letter include Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Representatives De… 1 2026-09-04T09:19:37Z 2026-09-04T09:20:58Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/following-meta-settlement-markey-calls-on-congress-to-pass-his-coppa-20-legislation-and-the-youth-ai-privacy-act-to-hold-big-tech-accountable-for-childrens-privacy Following Meta Settlement, Markey Calls on Congress to Pass His COPPA 2.0 Legislation and the Youth AI Privacy Act to Hold Big Tech Accountable for Children’s Privacy 2026-08-27 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Meta settlement comes in part due to violations of Markey’s Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Boston (August 27, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today called on Congress to pass his Children and Teens’ Online Privacy and Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) legislation which would update data privacy regulations for the 21st century to ensure children and teenagers are protected online, as well as his Youth AI Privacy Act, which would require AI companies to build privacy safeguards for minors into their AI chatbots in the wake of the Meta settlement with State Attorneys General to pay $18 billion, including up to $516 million to Massachusetts. Meta is now required to implement various child-safety measures on its platforms. “Big Tech’s day of reckoning is here. This settlement sends a message every boardroom in Silicon Valley should hear: our children are not collateral damage to bolster Big Tech’s bottom line. I am proud that my original law, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, helped hold Meta accountable, but we cannot stop here. In this emerging age of artificial intelligence, Big Tech is finding more ways to exploit our children’s data and manipulate their emotions for profit, making them and an entire generation sicker. Congress must pass my Youth AI Privacy Act to protect kids using AI chatbots and pass COPPA 2.0 to update my original law. We cannot rely on courts alone to secure strong protections for our kids’ privacy and safety — Congress must act.” In August, Senator Markey celebrated the passage of his Youth AI Privacy Act unanimously through the Senate Commerce Committee. Senator Markey’s COPPA 2.0 passed through the Senate unanimously in March 2026. Senator Markey is the original House author of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), passed in 1998. Also in March, Senator Markey released a statement after Meta and Google were found liable in a social media addiction lawsuit. ### 1 2026-08-28T17:11:49Z 2026-08-28T17:13:14Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-blunt-rochester-warren-coons-call-on-senate-leaders-to-schedule-vote-extending-haiti-tps-protections Markey, Blunt Rochester, Warren, Coons Call on Senate Leaders to Schedule Vote Extending Haiti TPS Protections 2026-08-27 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Letter Text (PDF) Washington (August 27, 2026) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Chris Coons (D-Del.) today wrote to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urging them to schedule a vote on H.R. 1689, a bill to designate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which allows nationals from designated countries facing life-threatening conditions to temporarily live and work legally in the United States. The Senators and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) have been fighting to preserve TPS protections for more than 300,000 Haitian nationals. The House legislation passed the House of Representatives in April but was blocked by Republicans in the Senate when Senators Markey and Blunt Rochester forced a vote on the bill last month. In Haiti, political instability, widespread violence, and a serious humanitarian emergency have cut off access to hospitals, schools, and basic services. Violent armed groups now exert control over much of the capital, Port-au-Prince, restricting movement and forcing more than five million people into food insecurity. Concurrently, disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods have devastated communities already struggling to survive. Together, these forces have shattered peace and stability for millions. In the letter, the lawmakers wrote, “TPS holders are our friends, our neighbors, and our colleagues. In cities and towns across Massachusetts and Delaware, Haitian TPS holders have lived, worked, and been valuable members of our communities for years. They deserve the stability of preserving their status, the dignity to live without fear, and the security of not being returned to danger. We strongly urge you to lead on this issue by bringing H.R. 1689 to the floor without delay when the Senate reconvenes.” Senator Markey has worked consistently to protect TPS for Haiti and support the Haitian community in Massachusetts amid the Trump administration’s attacks on TPS and Haitians… 1 2026-08-28T17:11:49Z 2026-08-28T17:13:14Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-statement-on-new-reporting-that-rfk-jr-lied-to-senator-markey-in-senate-confirmation-hearing Markey Statement on New Reporting That RFK Jr. Lied to Senator Markey in Senate Confirmation Hearing 2026-08-27 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Senator Markey directly questioned RFK Jr. under oath about ties to measles outbreak in Samoa Boston (August 27, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), top Democrat on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, released the following statement after new reporting uncovered documents revealing that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. traveled to Samoa in 2019 to promote disinformation about the measles vaccine. Shortly after his trip, Samoa experienced a deadly outbreak of measles that killed over 80 people and has been attributed to mass vaccine disinformation. Senator Markey questioned the then-nominee at his January 30, 2025, confirmation hearing. RFK Jr. lied to Senator Markey and Congress during his confirmation process, saying his trip to Samoa had “nothing to do with vaccines.” “New documents confirm what we already knew: RFK Jr. lied to Congress. He told us his Samoa trip had nothing to do with vaccines—now this letter shows that was false, just like it was false when he denied his role in the deadly outbreak that followed. This is a pattern, not a slip. RFK Jr. has lied to the Senate, lied to the American people, and jeopardized the health of children to advance his anti-vaccine agenda. He should never have been confirmed, and he cannot be trusted to run HHS for even one more day,” said Senator Markey. Senator Markey has been a fierce opponent of the Trump administration’s Make America Sick Agenda. In March, Senator Markey and Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director under President Joe Biden, published an op-ed in Newsweek titled, “America Is Getting Sicker, Not Healthier, Under Trump and RFK Jr.” Senator Markey and Dr. Walensky detail the damage that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has done to Massachusetts’ and the country’s health infrastructure as he has sown seeds of distrust in medicine and science, particularly vaccines, and taken a sledgehammer to lif… 1 2026-08-28T17:11:49Z 2026-08-28T17:13:14Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-walkinshaw-amo-kelly-lead-134-colleagues-in-demanding-release-of-more-than-3-billion-in-lifesaving-global-health-funding Markey, Walkinshaw, Amo, Kelly, Lead 134 Colleagues in Demanding Release of More Than $3 Billion in Lifesaving Global Health Funding 2026-08-27 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Washington (August 27, 2026) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), along with Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11), a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs, Congressman Gabe Amo (RI-01), and Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02) led 134 of their colleagues in calling on Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought to immediately release $7.5 billion in international affairs funding, to include more than $3 billion in congressionally appropriated global health funding before it expires on September 30, 2026. In a bicameral letter to Rubio and Vought, the lawmakers warned that approximately $7.5 billion in international affairs funding remains unobligated and at risk of expiring, including more than $3 billion intended for lifesaving global health programs. The Global Health Programs account supports efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child health, malnutrition, and emerging health threats. According to the letter, OMB has notified Congress that approximately $1.35 billion is being withheld for costs associated with closing the U.S. Agency for International Development instead of being used for the critical global health programs Congress funded. The lawmakers warned that allowing the funding to expire could contribute to an estimated 121,000 deaths from tuberculosis, 47,600 deaths from malaria, and the loss of lifesaving nutrition products for 22.9 million children. “This hardship can be prevented if the Administration spends these funds as Congress directed,” the lawmakers wrote. “We call on you to immediately release the remaining lifesaving, bipartisan GHP funding before it expires on September 30, 2026.” The letter also raises concerns about proposed changes to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, which has saved more than 26 million lives. The lawmakers warned that reducing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s role in the program could disr… 1 2026-09-09T09:27:09Z 2026-09-09T09:29:04Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-urges-congress-to-reject-trump-saudi-nuclear-deal Senator Markey Urges Congress to Reject Trump-Saudi Nuclear Deal 2026-08-26 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Markey: “This dangerous deal is the starting gun for a Middle East nuclear arms race” Boston (August 26, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), co-chair of the bicameral Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group, today released the following statement after the Trump administration sent to Congress a nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia that would open the door to providing the Kingdom with the means to produce nuclear weapons materials but would not require the most stringent safeguards against the development of those weapons. Congress holds the power to block this dangerous deal. “As a U.S. Senator, Marco Rubio once understood that handing Saudi Arabia the technology to produce nuclear weapons was a terrible idea. But now, as Secretary of State, Rubio is doing exactly that, and he and Trump are pursuing the most reckless nuclear deal in U.S. history. This giveaway to Saudi Arabia is the starting gun for a Middle East nuclear arms race. Congress must reject it. “If the Trump administration wants to stop a Saudi bomb, it should require the nonproliferation Gold Standard, which would ban enrichment and reprocessing and require International Atomic Energy Agency additional protocol safeguards in Saudi Arabia. If Riyadh did not want a bomb, it would accept the Gold Standard. But the opposite is happening. “Why? Maybe we should ask Saudi ruler Mohammed bin Salman, who has said repeatedly that he wants a nuclear bomb. Or maybe we should ask Jared Kushner, who accepted a $2 billion investment from a Saudi sovereign wealth fund after leaving the White House at the end of the first Trump administration. This is not diplomacy; this is corruption at the expense of U.S. national security. Congress must stop this dangerous agreement before it triggers a new nuclear arms race in the Middle East.” As a founder of the national Nuclear Freeze movement, Senator Markey has long been the Congressional leader on ending the proliferation of nuclear weapons. On July 31, Senators Markey and Jeff Merkley (D-O… 1 2026-08-27T16:10:01Z 2026-08-27T16:10:50Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-bennet-schumer-schrier-88-colleagues-demand-rescission-of-trumps-dangerous-childhood-vaccine-executive-order Markey, Bennet, Schumer, Schrier, 88 Colleagues Demand Rescission of Trump’s Dangerous Childhood Vaccine Executive Order 2026-08-18 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Letter Text (PDF) Washington (August 18, 2026) — Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, along with Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Representative Kim Schrier (D-Wash.), and 88 colleagues demanded President Donald Trump rescind his executive order that directs federal health agencies to overhaul longstanding childhood vaccine recommendations and encourages states to reconsider school immunization requirements. Trump’s anti-science executive order creates chaos and confusion just as millions of families across the country are preparing for the school year and are relying on science-based vaccine recommendations to protect their children and communities from preventable diseases. The lawmakers wrote, “At a moment when the United States is experiencing the highest surge in measles cases in thirty-five years and an increasing number of states forced to declare public health emergencies – your administration is placing more children in harm’s way rather than protecting them. This Executive Order overrides decades of scientific evidence and sows fear, chaos, and confusion. The result will not be safer or healthier children; it will be a continued decline in vaccination rates, recurring disease outbreaks, higher healthcare costs, and school disruptions that cause learning loss. Vaccines are rigorously tested and monitored for safety, and save millions of lives each year – especially the lives of children.” Since being confirmed, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has unleashed a methodical campaign to substitute decades of science with an anti-vaccine ideology. Specifically, Trump’s latest directive pushes to break up combination vaccines into single-disease doses, ignoring the medical community’s long-standing, evidence-backed agreement that combination vaccines are safe, effective, and specifically timed… 1 2026-08-19T05:29:02Z 2026-08-19T05:30:24Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-ranking-member-wyden-colleagues-demand-hhs-dhs-stop-sharing-medicaid-data-with-ice Senator Markey, Ranking Member Wyden, Colleagues Demand HHS, DHS Stop Sharing Medicaid Data with ICE 2026-08-18 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Letter to HHS, CMS (PDF) | Letter to DHS (PDF) Washington (August 18, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, and Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, along with Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), wrote to Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Dr. Mehmet Oz, and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, demanding that HHS and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) immediately stop unlawfully transferring Medicaid data to DHS and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and that DHS immediately stop unlawfully receiving Medicaid data transfers from HHS. In July 2025, CMS and ICE entered into an agreement to give immigration enforcement officials access to the personal data of millions of Medicaid enrollees, including immigration status and addresses. In December 2025, a federal court set guardrails on the types of information CMS could share with ICE. HHS has now acknowledged that it transferred protected Medicaid information—including data on U.S. citizens—to immigration enforcement authorities three times in violation the court order. These data transfers form part of a larger pattern of information-sharing to advance the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant agenda, at the expense of Americans’ privacy and the statutory protections Congress built into these programs. In the letters, the lawmakers wrote, “Congress has a responsibility to ensure that the personal health information of the tens of millions of people who rely on Medicaid is protected and that the Trump administration complies with federal court orders. Medicaid enrollees have a right to expect that their private information will be safeguarded and not employed for mass deportation campaigns. Each person whose informatio… 1 2026-08-19T05:29:02Z 2026-08-19T05:30:24Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/icymi-markey-mcgovern-join-local-leaders-in-worcester-to-celebrate-8-million-in-federal-funding-for-public-roadway-at-greentech-park ICYMI: Markey, McGovern Join Local Leaders in Worcester to Celebrate $8 Million in Federal Funding for Public Roadway at GreenTech Park 2026-08-14 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Senator Markey, Rep. McGovern, and local elected leaders gather at GreenTech Park for groundbreaking Boston (August 14, 2026) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) yesterday joined Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02) and the Worcester Business Development Corporation (WBDC) to break ground on the future public roadway at GreenTech Park in Worcester. Senator Markey, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Congressman McGovern helped secure nearly $8 million in federal funding for the project to improve the infrastructure at GreenTech Park. Senator Markey and Congressman McGovern were joined by Worcester Mayor Joe Petty; Craig Blais, President of WBDC; State Senators Robyn Kennedy and Michael Moore; State Representatives Jim O’Day and John Mahoney; City Manager Eric Batista; and City Councilor Tony Economou. “One million square feet of new economic development for a new generation,” said Senator Markey. “That’s a million square feet of opportunity. It means jobs, new homes, new businesses, and new horizons for the residents of Greater Worcester. Together, we are going to make sure that America keeps its promise to Worcester and cities like it—the communities that built this nation and that make it great.” “GreenTech Park is what smart economic development looks like. We’re taking land that sat vacant and underused for years and turning it into something that works for people—good jobs, new businesses, stronger neighborhoods, and new opportunities right here in Worcester,” said Congressman McGovern. “As our city grows, we ought to make sure that growth actually benefits the people who live here. I’m incredibly proud to have fought alongside Senators Markey and Warren to bring home the federal dollars that helped get this moving, and I’m really excited to see what comes next.” Senator Markey has helped secure federal investments in Worcester and across Massachusetts as part of the CDS process, which enables senators as part of the annual federal budget to secure direct investments in community-based projects that ser… 1 2026-08-15T05:23:20Z 2026-08-15T05:24:50Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-colleagues-demand-education-department-withdraw-proposed-rule-gutting-equity-assistance-centers Senator Markey, Colleagues Demand Education Department Withdraw Proposed Rule Gutting Equity Assistance Centers 2026-08-11 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Letter Text (PDF) Boston (August 11, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), top Democrat on the Primary Health and Retirement Security Subcommittee of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today wrote to Linda McMahon, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, condemning the agency’s efforts to gut the Equity Assistance Centers (EACs), which provide free technical assistance to school districts, states, and communities to prepare, adopt, and implement plans to desegregate public schools in compliance with federal civil rights law. The Department of Education’s decision to dismantle the EACs with its proposed rule, “Rescinding the Equity Assistance Center Program Regulations,” upends a longstanding congressionally funded program and joins similar actions from the Administration in destroying civil rights enforcement infrastructure. As a result, schools, students, and parents will be left without these resources at a time of persistent segregation and growing inequality. Cosigners of the letter include Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). In the letter, the lawmakers wrote, “As with other efforts to erode federal civil rights oversight and enforcement, ED’s proposed rule is ‘like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.’ While the rule claims to offer ‘flexibility’ in desegregation compliance efforts, the Administration’s actions reveal that its goal is to throw away the umbrella, not find a raincoat instead. We urge the Department to withdraw this proposed rule, ensure that the federal government upholds the civil rights of all students, and work to ensure all students can attend schools that are not segregated.” Senator Markey has long been a leading champion for public education and supporting students. Most recently:… 1 2026-08-12T06:18:38Z 2026-08-12T06:20:33Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-statement-on-the-release-of-robert-gilman Senator Markey Statement on the Release of Robert Gilman 2026-08-11 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Washington (August 11, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement on the release of Massachusetts resident and former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman. “Over the past two years, my office has been working closely with the family of Robert Gilman – a Massachusetts resident and former Marine who has been wrongfully detained in Russia on questionable charges for 1,666 days. I am pleased to report that Robert has finally been released by the Russian government and is on his way home to the United States.” “Approximately 50 days ago, Robert was diagnosed with a dissociative stupor – a condition where he is non-responsive and unable to interact or eat. He was essentially catatonic and also suffered a severe case of pneumonia. We don’t yet know the full details of his current condition or the long-term impact on his recovery. I’m grateful that Robert is now on his way back to the United States to receive the life-saving care that he desperately needs.” “While this news is deeply welcomed, it is long overdue. It is a tragedy that it took Robert’s near-death condition for his case to receive the attention that it required for his release to be negotiated. Throughout his detention, Robert was subjected to physical torture, forced medication, and provocations by Russian authorities. There is no doubt that his treatment by Russian authorities is the reason Robert is in this precarious state today.” “I offer my deepest appreciation to Robert’s family and the team at Global Reach for their relentless advocacy on his behalf. His release today is a true testament to the enduring love of family.” “We must also never forget that there are still more than five other Americans detained in Russia. I urge the Trump administration to use Robert’s case as motivation to continue to advocate for the release of others wrongfully detained in Russia and around the world.” “I pray that Robert is able to recover from this nightmare and wish him and his family peace in the difficult days ahead.” ### 1 2026-08-12T06:18:38Z 2026-08-12T06:20:33Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-urges-ferc-reject-nextera-dominion-energy-merger-over-antitrust-affordability-concerns Senator Markey Urges FERC Reject NextEra, Dominion Energy Merger Over Antitrust, Affordability Concerns 2026-08-10 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Letter Text (PDF) Washington (August 10, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, today wrote to Laura Swett, Chairman of the Federal Regulatory Commission (FERC), urging the commission to reject NextEra Energy’s proposed acquisition of Dominion Energy. The acquisition would form the world’s largest regulated energy utility, creating serious antitrust concerns and threatening unreasonable rate increases for consumers who are already struggling with skyrocketing bills. FERC has a statutory duty to put public interest over corporate profits when evaluating mergers and acquisitions under Section 203 of the Federal Power Act. Consolidation can create massive energy companies that become too powerful to effectively regulate and often results in drastic cost-saving and revenue-generating measures like rate increases, delayed maintenance, and reduced reliability. NextEra’s proposed acquisition of Dominion is particularly concerning and demands heightened FERC scrutiny because of its unprecedented scale and NextEra’s history of profiteering, anti-competitive activities, lobbying, and political donations. In the letter, Senator Markey wrote, “Corporate consolidation is sweeping the energy sector, concentrating unprecedented market power in a shrinking number of companies and threatening to drive already-high electricity costs even higher. NextEra Energy’s proposed acquisition of Dominion Energy may be the most consequential example yet.” Senator Markey continued, “FERC has a statutory obligation to ensure that consolidation in the energy sector serves the public interest, not corporate profits. It is impossible to see how this consolidation will not put the public interest at risk. As energy costs rise and market power becomes increasingly concentrated, FERC must use its authority to protect consumers from transactions that threaten competition, affordability, and reliability. It should do so here and deny the application.” Senator Markey requested responses to… 1 2026-08-11T05:54:29Z 2026-08-11T05:56:25Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-urges-stronger-fda-action-to-protect-families-from-toxic-food-chemicals Senator Markey Urges Stronger FDA Action to Protect Families from Toxic Food Chemicals 2026-08-10 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Boston (August 10, 2026) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and the Environment and Public Works Committee, today called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to strengthen its proposed rule amending the “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) loophole. The loophole allows food companies to add new chemicals to products without notifying the FDA or submitting the chemical for safety reviews. FDA’s proposed rule, released today, would require companies to notify FDA of their use of new food additives, but fails to require the agency review those chemicals for potential risks to health and safety. In July 2025, Senator Markey, along with Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), reintroduced the Ensuring Safe and Toxic-Free Foods Act, which requires the FDA to independently review food chemicals before they enter the market and prohibits the approval of substances with demonstrated carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, or developmental toxicity. “The FDA is correct in its recognition that the GRAS rule is flawed and overdue for correction, but this proposed rule will not protect families from exposure to dangerous food chemicals,” said Senator Markey. “In addition to mandatory notification of use outlined in this rule, the FDA should be using strong, science-based standards to independently review every chemical proposed for use in our food. The agency should also address the thousands of potential toxins already used that the GRAS loophole has rubberstamped since its creation.” When Congress created the GRAS loophole in 1958, it was meant to apply to ingredients widely recognized as safe, such as salt and yeast. However, since its creation, industry has exploited this loophole to add demonstrated toxins into commercial food products without any form of review by the FDA. As a result, thousands of new substances have been put onto the market with no assessment of the risks they may pose to our health and safety. Since 2000, nearly 99 percent… 1 2026-08-11T05:54:29Z 2026-08-11T05:56:25Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-votes-against-continuing-resolution-refuses-to-fund-trumps-unwinnable-iran-war-and-authoritarian-agenda Senator Markey Votes Against Continuing Resolution, Refuses to Fund Trump’s Unwinnable Iran War and Authoritarian Agenda 2026-08-08 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Washington (August 8, 2026) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement after voting against the Continuing Resolution to fund Trump’s administration. “Voting for this Continuing Resolution would be signing a check for President Trump to continue his illegal, reckless agenda, including ICE raids, an unwinnable war in Iran, threats to interfere in our elections this fall, and the dismantling of the social safety net. I will not give a nickel to an authoritarian who is handing over our government to billionaire and corporate interests that have raised the cost of living so high that human rights become commodities that working families cannot afford. I’m proud to have voted against more of Donald Trump’s nominees and agenda than any other Senator, and I won’t stop fighting him with every tool there is.” ### 1 2026-08-09T05:47:57Z 2026-08-09T05:49:40Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-help-committee-push-justice-department-to-hold-steward-healthcare-ceo-ralph-de-la-torre-accountable-for-corporate-greed Markey, HELP Committee Push Justice Department to Hold Steward Healthcare CEO Ralph de la Torre Accountable for Corporate Greed 2026-08-07 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Washington (August 7, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, today released the following statement as the Department of Justice continues to ignore the Senate’s unanimous criminal contempt referral for Steward Health Care CEO Dr. Ralph de la Torre. De la Torre failed to respond to a subpoena issued by the Senate HELP committee in September 2024. Senator Markey and the HELP Committee continue to call on the Department of Justice to hold Dr. de la Torre accountable for his mismanagement and dangerous self-interest. “Dr. Ralph de la Torre looted Steward Health Care for his own personal gain, including selling land out from under hospitals while he bought a yacht and lavish homes. His greed led to patient deaths, unpaid workers and vendors, and communities losing critical health services. The Senate unanimously voted to hold him in contempt of Congress, but de la Torre has yet to face accountability for his actions. The Department of Justice has dragged its feet for too long; it’s time they hold de la Torre responsible for the anguish he’s caused Massachusetts families. “Steward Health Care was an example - not the exception. The longer de la Torre evades responsibility, the more people will die. I will continue fighting for my Health Over Wealth Act and to get private equity out of health care. Massachusetts and our country deserve better.” In July 2024, Senator Markey spoke at a press conference after Steward announced the closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer and Carney Hospital in Dorchester. Earlier in the month, Senator Markey was joined by fifteen bipartisan colleagues in voting to subpoena Dr. de la Torre to compel him to appear before the HELP Committee and answer for the business practices of Steward Health and the role private equity and real estate investment trusts played in its bankruptcy. This was the first time the HELP Committee had issued a subpoena since 19… 1 2026-08-08T05:41:38Z 2026-08-08T05:43:24Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-reintroduces-legislation-to-expedite-humanitarian-aid-to-the-people-of-north-korea Senator Markey Reintroduces Legislation to Expedite Humanitarian Aid to the People of North Korea 2026-08-07 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Bill Text (PDF) Washington (August 7, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) reintroduced the Enhancing North Korea Humanitarian Assistance Act of 2026, which would expedite the efforts of non-governmental organizations to provide lifesaving medical care, sanitation systems, and other essential humanitarian needs to the people of North Korea. The legislation would modify sanctions implementation at the United States Department of Treasury, Department of State, Department of Commerce, and the United Nations’ North Korea sanctions committee to ensure that assistance can reach those in need. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) cosponsors the legislation. “Sanctions on North Korea should target the oppressive Kim regime and its dangerous nuclear ambitions—not its vulnerable civilians who lack access to essential services and lifesaving care. Thousands across North Korea are without adequate medical treatment, clean water, and stable food supplies, not because we lack the will to help, but because of bureaucratic roadblocks that delay aid for months on end,” said Senator Markey. “The United States must cut through the red tape preventing the efforts of non-governmental organizations to provide such basic needs of North Koreans.” As of 2025, roughly 11,800,000 people in North Korea are in urgent need of food assistance and roughly 10,400,000 need improved access to basic services, including health care, water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities. Additionally, more than 45 percent of the population in North Korea is undernourished, and one-third of household drinking water is contaminated. Humanitarian groups address these essential needs—providing a lifeline for the North Korean people—but under the current sanctions regulations, they often get obstructed by bureaucratic roadblocks. For instance, the treatment of tuberculosis requires not just food and medicine, which are exempted from sanctions, but also basic materials to make temporary patient isolation wards. Even the laptops that humanitarian workers need fo… 1 2026-08-08T05:41:38Z 2026-08-08T05:43:24Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-releases-new-comprehensive-report-under-the-radar-documenting-trumps-second-administration-stealth-attack-on-us-immigration-system Senator Markey Releases New Comprehensive Report “Under the Radar” Documenting Trump’s Second Administration Stealth Attack on U.S. Immigration System 2026-08-07 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Markey report reveals some of the most expansive and damaging measures have unfolded largely outside of public view Report Text (PDF) Washington (August 7, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today released a comprehensive new report, titled Under the Radar II: The Second Trump Administration’s Stealth Attack on the U.S. Immigration System, examining the second Trump administration’s quiet, systematic efforts to dismantle the U.S. immigration system. While many of the Trump administration’s immigration actions have made headlines since his inauguration day, some of the most expansive and damaging measures have unfolded largely outside of public view. Senator Markey’s report documents how the Administration has made “under-the-radar” policy and procedural changes to destabilize pathways to lawful presence, expand immigration enforcement, and reshape the immigration courts. The report follows Senator Markey’s “Under the Radar” report from May 2019, which exposed similar covert efforts by the first Trump administration to reshape the immigration system. “As our nation commemorates its 250th anniversary, we should be celebrating our identity as a nation of immigrants. Instead, the Trump administration is quietly gutting critical protections to systematically demonize and target our immigrant communities,” said Senator Markey. “This report shines a light on Trump’s cruel project to dismantle due process, strip immigrants of their lawful status, and turn our immigration courts into deportation machines. The Trump administration must be held accountable for its attacks on our immigrant neighbors.” Senator Markey’s report pulls back the curtain on the second Trump administration’s cruel immigration policy reforms. For instance, the Trump administration has moved to expand denaturalization, the process of revoking citizenship. The Administration instructed United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) field offices in 2025 to refer between 100 to 200 denaturalization cases per month for litigation,… 1 2026-08-08T05:41:38Z 2026-08-08T05:43:24Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-blasts-trump-administration-for-ending-haitis-temporary-protected-status Markey Blasts Trump Administration for Ending Haiti’s Temporary Protected Status 2026-08-06 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Washington (August 6, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement after a lower court officially confirmed the end of Haiti Temporary Protected Status (TPS), following the Supreme Court’s June ruling greenlighting the Trump administration’s cruel termination. Senators Markey and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), along with Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), have been fighting to pass legislation to extend Haiti TPS protections through 2028. That legislation passed the House of Representatives in April but was blocked by Republicans in the Senate when Senators Markey and Blunt Rochester forced a vote on the bill two weeks ago. “The official termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haiti is a moral failure,” said Senator Markey. “Our own government has determined that it is unsafe for U.S. citizens to travel to Haiti, so why would it be safe for Haitians to return? This is the latest cruel and harmful move by the Trump administration. “TPS was enacted to provide safe harbor to individuals who cannot safely return to their countries due to armed conflict, political unrest, natural disasters, or other conditions. Haiti’s TPS designation should remain in place given the challenges still facing Haiti today. Massachusetts and our entire country have greatly benefited from Haitian TPS holders’ contributions—they are teachers, nurses, construction workers, home health aides, and business owners. The end of Haiti TPS will separate families who wish for nothing more than safety and will hurt local communities across the nation. “I have partnered with Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester to introduce our bill, S.4814, to extend TPS protections for Haitians. I will continue to fight to pass this critical legislation. And as the Trump administration continues to attack all TPS holders, I will fight to extend these same protections to TPS holders from Syria, Venezuela, El Salvador, Ukraine, Sudan, and every other community that has been forced to seek safety in the United States. Today, and ever… 1 2026-08-07T06:11:19Z 2026-08-07T06:12:42Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-continues-pressure-on-boston-ice-field-office-to-answer-for-continued-new-england-deportation-regime Markey Continues Pressure on Boston ICE Field Office to Answer for Continued New England Deportation Regime 2026-08-06 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Letter to ICE (PDF) | ICE Response to December 2025 Letter (PDF) Washington (August 6, 2026) - Today, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) again demanded answers from David Wesling, Acting Field Office Director for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Boston Field Office, after receiving an incomplete response from ICE to his December 17, 2025, letter that was sent following the Senator’s inspection of the Burlington field office. In the new letter released today, Senator Markey again asked ICE to address his concerns over the inhumane conditions, overcrowding, prolonged detention, lack of adequate access to medical care and legal counsel, and other poor treatment of detainees at the Burlington ICE field office facility. He highlighted how ICE’s response effectively acknowledged severe overcrowding at the Burlington field office and conceded violations of its own prolonged-detention policies. Senator Markey further inquired about ICE’s arrest of minors and enforcement activity at sensitive locations, use of excessive force, officer misconduct, and insufficient vetting of new hires. In today’s letter, Senator Markey wrote, “ICE claimed that a ‘statistical reporting hold’ blocked it from identifying the number of individuals processed at the field office in 2025 who committed violent crimes. Meanwhile, public reporting indicates that only 2% of individuals arrested during an enforcement surge in Massachusetts in September 2025 had violent convictions. And the data ICE provided for 2026 arrests appears misleading, as ICE noted that it deems illegal entry sufficient grounds for arrest and that an individual need not commit any additional crimes—violent or not—to be subject to removal. Moreover, ICE’s response suggests that out of all the individuals it arrested with criminal convictions, a mere 15 percent were convicted of an offense ICE labeled as “serious.” It is imperative that ICE admit the extent of the Trump administration’s falsehoods by turning over the rest of the requested arrest data.” Sena… 1 2026-08-07T06:11:19Z 2026-08-07T06:12:42Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-issues-urgent-call-for-support-for-e-rate-as-trump-fcc-reviews-program Markey Issues Urgent Call for Support for E-Rate as Trump FCC Reviews Program 2026-08-06 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Washington (August 6, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and author of the E-Rate program, this week urged local leaders, librarians, library associations, teachers, school committee members, administrators, and advocates to submit comments in support of the E-Rate program. The Trump Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted in June to open a review of E-Rate. At a virtual roundtable, Senator Markey warned that weakening the bedrock educational technology program would threaten Internet access for millions of students, teachers, schools, and libraries across the country. “The Trump administration is putting the success of the E-Rate program at risk, threatening to blow a hole in schools’ budgets and diverting limited local dollars from teachers, classroom programs, books, and other essential services,” said Senator Markey. “It’s unacceptable. But we can and will fight back. The FCC will be accepting comments for the next few months, and they need to hear what E-Rate means in your school, library, and community. Submit comments. Share the numbers. Tell the stories. And ask everyone you know — students, parents, teachers, library patrons — to share their stories too. I will continue the fight in the Senate to save this vital program.” “Together, we built E-Rate. And together, we will protect it.” In June, Senator Markey voiced strong concerns after the FCC voted to open a review of the E-Rate program. In April, the FCC approved a new rule creating additional administrative burdens for schools and libraries to access funds from the E-Rate program. In September 2025, the FCC repealed its rule allowing schools and libraries to use their E-Rate funds to loan Wi-Fi hotspots to students and educators, setting back years of success in ensuring students and educators have access to the internet at home. The E-Rate program has invested more than $69 billion to connect schools and libraries to the internet across the country. Massachusetts school… 1 2026-08-07T06:11:19Z 2026-08-07T06:12:42Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-jayapal-reintroduce-legislation-to-protect-health-facilities-from-climate-disaster Markey, Jayapal Reintroduce Legislation to Protect Health Facilities from Climate Disaster 2026-08-06 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Bill Text (PDF) Washington (August 6, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and author of the Green New Deal for Health, and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) today reintroduced the Granting Resources for Eliminating Emissions Now in (GREEN) Hospitals Act. The legislation would provide $105 billion to revive a New Deal-era program to modernize and weatherize health facilities in order to reduce emissions, protect public health, and ensure that more Americans have access to healthcare before, during, and after climate disasters and extreme weather events. Already this year, the U.S. has experienced 12 climate disasters, costing more than a billion dollars and putting healthcare facilities, patients, and workers at risk. “Climate change is a public health emergency. Power outages, floods, fires, and extreme temperatures threaten hospitals’ ability to care for patients in a disaster. Meanwhile, outdated infrastructure contributes to the pollution causing this climate emergency,” said Senator Markey. “Through the GREEN Hospitals Act, we will ensure our country’s hospitals are prepared for the future. This bill will help hospitals become more resilient, lower energy costs, reduce pollution, protect workers, and ensure patients can continue to receive care when they need it the most. We cannot build a healthier future without a health system that recognizes that climate justice is health justice.” “As wildfires, storms, and severe weather conditions become more common because of climate change, our hospitals need to be ready and resilient,” said Congresswoman Jayapal. “During public health and climate emergencies, Americans depend on reliable healthcare infrastructure that can withstand tough conditions. This legislation gives our hospitals the funding and resources they need to be prepared for extreme climate events, expand their ability to provide essential healthcare, and improve overall sustainability for the future.” As the … 1 2026-08-07T06:11:19Z 2026-08-07T06:12:42Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-statement-on-the-worsening-medical-condition-of-robert-gilman Senator Markey Statement on the Worsening Medical Condition of Robert Gilman 2026-08-06 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Washington (August 6, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today released the following statement on the detention of Massachusetts resident and former Marine Robert Gilman by the Russian government. “My office has been closely monitoring the detention of Robert Gilman–a Massachusetts resident and former Marine who has been held in Russia on questionable charges for 1,662 days–nearly four and a half years. “We have been made aware by Robert’s family and advocates working on his behalf that approximately 48 days ago, he was diagnosed with a dissociative stupor–a condition where he is non-responsive and unable to interact or eat. He is essentially catatonic and has also suffered a severe case of pneumonia. “I am very worried that, if urgent action is not taken to release Robert so he can receive urgent medical care in the United States, his condition could become permanent, or he could die in Russian custody. I implore the United States and Russian governments to find a solution before we find ourselves in a situation that will further complicate an already difficult relationship.” “I am praying for Robert and his family today.” ### 1 2026-08-07T06:11:19Z 2026-08-07T06:12:42Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-statement-on-commerce-committee-markup-of-kosa Markey Statement on Commerce Committee Markup of KOSA 2026-08-05 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Washington (August 5, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, issued the following statement after the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) passed through the Commerce Committee by a voice vote. “Today the Senate Commerce Committee voted to advance the Kids Online Safety Act. As I have said in the past, I have concerns about how this legislation could be weaponized against LGBTQ+ young people. These concerns are especially heightened today when the Trump FTC is unlawfully and viciously targeting trans kids. I stand ready to continue working with the sponsors on this legislation to ensure it doesn't hurt our LGBTQ+ youth.” ### 1 2026-08-06T07:37:31Z 2026-08-06T07:38:34Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-celebrates-unanimous-committee-passage-of-his-youth-ai-privacy-act Senator Markey Celebrates Unanimous Committee Passage of His Youth AI Privacy Act 2026-08-05 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Washington (August 5, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today celebrated the passage of his Youth AI Privacy Act unanimously through the Senate Commerce Committee. This crucial legislation would require AI companies to build safety and privacy safeguards into their chatbots for minors. “Today’s unanimous committee passage of my Youth AI Privacy Act is a huge step forward for protecting kids’ privacy and safety in the age of AI,” said Senator Markey. “This vote demonstrates bipartisan support for robust privacy safeguards in AI chatbots and sends a clear message that Big Tech must prioritize kids over their bottom line. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the Youth AI Privacy Act into law.” Emerging evidence clearly suggests that minors are especially vulnerable to the harms of AI chatbots, particularly as companies introduce increasingly manipulative design features and rely on large amounts of children’s personal data. The Youth AI Privacy Act would set new privacy standards for these systems, curb the business incentives that drive harmful design choices, and address the ways Big Tech has engineered chatbots to encourage compulsive use among young people. In July, Senator Markey announced new support for the legislation, following its initial introduction in March 2026. ### 1 2026-08-06T07:37:31Z 2026-08-06T07:38:34Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-van-hollen-whitehouse-dingell-statement-on-dc-circuits-ruling-to-protect-landmark-greenhouse-gas-reduction-fund-from-unlawful-trump-attacks Markey, Van Hollen, Whitehouse, Dingell Statement on D.C. Circuit’s Ruling to Protect Landmark Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund from Unlawful Trump Attacks 2026-08-04 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Ruling allows grant recipients to withdraw funds and get to work on projects to lower energy bills, create healthier environment, fight climate change Washington (August 4, 2026) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) today applauded the ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, sitting en banc, to uphold an injunction that blocks the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from clawing back billions of dollars in funds from Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) awardees. In February, the lawmakers were joined by 36 additional members of Congress in filing an amicus brief at the D.C. Circuit, urging it to take this action. “The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund was designed to unleash new projects and create jobs around the country that would cut down on rising energy bills, dangerous pollution, and harm to our climate,” said the lawmakers. “The Trump administration’s brazen attempt to prevent those projects, seize these funds, and break the law in the process has been rightfully halted by the D.C. Circuit. These dollars were awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency years ago after a rigorous and transparent process, in accordance with the law we passed in 2022. We will continue to fight for the full and fair operation of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund—for a safer climate, for good green jobs, and for cheaper, cleaner energy.” Senators Markey, Van Hollen and Congresswoman Dingell were the authors of the National Climate Bank Act, legislation that served as the framework for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund provision that became law through the Inflation Reduction Act–and was executed by the EPA under the Biden administration. ### 1 2026-08-05T07:37:37Z 2026-08-05T07:38:44Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senate-passes-markey-amendments-to-crack-down-on-illegal-robocalls Senate Passes Markey Amendments to Crack Down on Illegal Robocalls 2026-08-04 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Washington (August 4, 2026) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, celebrated the Senate’s passage by unanimous consent of the Foreign Robocall Elimination Act. The legislation includes four amendments that Senator Markey secured during committee consideration — three with Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and one with Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) — to strengthen investigations, expose bad actors, and protect consumers against illegal robocalls and texts. “When robocall scammers try to turn Americans’ phones into tools for theft and deception, we have to make their jobs harder,” said Senator Markey. “My amendments will strengthen efforts to trace illegal calls to their source, crack down on sham phone companies, and shine a light on the networks that enable these scams. I’m proud to continue leading the fight against illegal robocalls and restore trust in our phone networks.” Senator Markey’s amendments would: Make it harder for sham providers to game the system. The Luján-Markey provision requires the Federal Communications Commission to establish a bond of up to $100,000 for certain providers registering in the Robocall Mitigation Database. Phone companies have to register in the Robocall Mitigation Database to send calls through the U.S. phone network. Strengthen private traceback investigations. The Thune-Markey provision incorporates their Robocall Traceback Enhancement Act, which the lawmakers introduced in 2021. The amendment helps bolster privately led efforts to trace back the origins of illegal and bothersome robocalls, helping to identify and stop bad actors. Increase transparency and accountability. Two Markey-Luján amendments strengthen the bill’s required report by directing the robocall task force to evaluate the potential benefits and risks of periodically releasing traceback results, including whether disclosure could help consumers avoid bad providers, strengthen deterrence, and improve call blocking. Senator Markey is the … 1 2026-08-05T07:37:37Z 2026-08-05T07:38:44Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-markey-merkley-reintroduce-legislation-to-protect-healthcare-for-americans-who-cannot-afford-bail Senators Markey, Merkley Reintroduce Legislation to Protect Healthcare for Americans Who Cannot Afford Bail 2026-08-04 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Bill Text (PDF) Washington (August 4, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) today reintroduced the Equity in Pretrial Health Coverage Act, legislation that would protect the continuity of federal health benefits under Medicaid, Medicare, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Veterans Affairs for Americans who have been detained while they await trial and, in many cases, remain in custody because they cannot afford bail. These protections would make it easier for people to continue to access essential healthcare, including substance use disorder and mental health treatment, while incarcerated. The legislation would partially reverse the 1965 Federal Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP), which generally bans the use of federal funds to provide care for inmates of a public institution under Medicaid. “Healthcare is a human right. It is unjust and immoral to strip people of their health coverage simply because they can’t afford to pay their bail,” said Senator Markey. “Congress must eliminate the discriminatory policies that make it harder for people to get the healthcare they need, including treatment for substance use disorder or mental health services. I am proud to partner with Senator Merkley in fighting to break down barriers to essential healthcare and create a system that puts care and compassion over incarceration.” “Americans who have serious health conditions—including those who are awaiting trial—need access to quality health care and can’t afford to be kicked off of those benefits,” said Senator Merkley. “In America, you are innocent until proven guilty, and the?Equity in Pre-Trial Health Coverage Act?will ensure that pre-trial detainees can keep their health coverage and seek the medical treatment they need.” Currently, individuals who are arrested and can post bail maintain their coverage. But those who remain in custody because they cannot afford bail can lose covera… 1 2026-08-05T07:37:37Z 2026-08-05T07:38:44Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-pressley-release-report-showing-success-of-fare-free-transit-in-massachusetts Markey, Pressley Release Report Showing Success of Fare-Free Transit in Massachusetts 2026-08-03 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Report calls for passage of their Freedom to Move Act, which invests $25 billion in public transit Fare Free Transit Reduces Costs for Travelers and Boosts Transit Ridership Report (PDF) Washington (August 3, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) today released a new report, Making Transit Free, Frequent, and Reliable: Massachusetts shows the need for federal investment in fare-free transit, detailing the need for increased federal investments in fare-free transit. Senator Markey and Congresswoman Pressley are lead sponsors of the Freedom to Move Act, which would provide $25 billion to communities to pilot fare free service and expand existing transit service. “From Worcester to Boston to the Merrimack Valley, Massachusetts is showing the nation what is possible when transit goes fare-free,” said Senator Markey. “Our report shows that fare-free transit saves families money, increases ridership, and helps make transit easier and simpler for passengers. More transit riders can mean less congestion, cleaner air, and safer streets. This report provides a roadmap for bringing those benefits to communities across the country. Congress should pass the Freedom to Move Act and help any community go fare free.” “The data doesn’t lie and this report makes plain what we’ve long known: fare-free transit is essential to building connected communities, improving mobility, and making life more affordable for our families,” said Congresswoman Pressley, Co-Chair of the Future of Transportation Caucus. “Transit equity is an economic, racial, and climate justice issue, and it’s time we invest in public transit as the public good that it is. That’s why Congress must pass our Freedom to Move Act to continue to support fare-free transit across our state and nation.” Massachusetts has become a national leader in fare-free transit through a range of programs serving urban, suburban, and rural communities. Regional transit … 1 2026-08-04T07:35:49Z 2026-08-04T07:37:27Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-markey-warren-reps-lynch-keating-pressley-auchincloss-demand-trump-administration-reverse-denial-of-massachusetts-disaster-request-for-february-blizzard Sens. Markey, Warren, Reps. Lynch, Keating, Pressley, Auchincloss Demand Trump Administration Reverse Denial of Massachusetts Disaster Request for February Blizzard 2026-08-03 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Letter Text (PDF) Washington (August 3, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Representatives Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Bill Keating (MA-09), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and Jake Auchincloss (MA-04) sent a letter to President Donald Trump and Acting Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Robert Fenton demanding that the Administration rescind its denial of Massachusetts’ request for a major disaster declaration following the February 2026 blizzard. The storm overwhelmed the Commonwealth with more than three feet of snow, caused an estimated $38 billion in damage and economic losses, cost the Commonwealth more than $45 million in direct expenses, and endangered communities. The lawmakers pressed the Administration to reverse course and approve the Commonwealth’s appeal, which was filed on Friday, to ensure that Massachusetts communities receive much-needed relief as they continue to struggle under the weight of snow-related expenses. On July 2, 2026, Massachusetts was notified that the Trump administration denied the Commonwealth’s major disaster declaration request to help fund expenses related to the historic blizzard that hit the state last February. FEMA’s stated rationale for the denial appears to disregard federal law. On July 31, Governor Healey filed a formal appeal in response. Recent reporting suggests that Trump personally denied Massachusetts’ request as part of the overall politicization of disaster declaration requests, despite FEMA’s determination that the blizzard met major disaster requirements. The lawmakers wrote, “If FEMA’s initial denial was based on an attempt to reinterpret or narrow the definition of a major disaster, we urge FEMA to comply with the Stafford Act and reverse course. However, if the denial was influenced by partisan political considerations, we must insist on a full reconsideration of this decision to restore parity in the federal disaster response process. Accordingly, and given the profound impacts Massachusetts e… 1 2026-08-04T07:35:49Z 2026-08-04T07:37:27Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-titus-reintroduce-legislation-to-defend-human-rights-in-turkey Markey, Titus Reintroduce Legislation to Defend Human Rights in Turkey 2026-07-31 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Bill Text (PDF) Washington (July 31, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) along with Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01) reintroduced the Turkey Human Rights Promotion Act of 2026 to promote democracy, defend human rights, and impose accountability on the Government of Turkey for systemic political repression and violations of international law. Following the attempted coup in July 2016, the Government of Turkey has intensified its crackdown on free speech and pursued a sweeping campaign restricting fundamental rights. This legislation ensures that the United States condemns these attacks and directs the Department of State to expand support for civil society and independent media in Turkey. “President Erdogan’s authoritarian rule must end. While the Turkish government continues to lock up journalists, political participants, and minority communities, the Trump White House is rewarding them by lifting sanctions and flaunting a ‘friendship’ with Erdogan,” said Senator Markey. “This legislation makes clear that the United States is committed to supporting peace and civil liberties in Turkey, and that the U.S. does not maintain friendships with dictators.” “Turkey is a NATO ally, but that alliance carries obligations such as adherence to democratic norms and respect for human rights that Turkey is not meeting. For nearly a decade, the Erdogan government has moved further away from those responsibilities, not closer,” Congresswoman Titus said. “Thousands of political prisoners and journalists have been jailed simply for doing their jobs; lawyers have been prosecuted for representing their clients; religious and ethnic minorities are routinely targeted through vague anti-terrorism laws; and a transnational repression campaign has reached into our own communities here in the United States. Erdogan should not be granted greater U.S. security assistance unless there is clear, demonstrated improvements in each of these categories. I am proud to lead this bicameral bill with Senator Markey.” The Government of Turkey… 1 2026-08-01T07:27:26Z 2026-08-01T07:28:22Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-markey-warren-reps-keating-lynch-urge-fema-to-rescind-decision-to-cancel-coastal-recovery-projects Senators Markey, Warren, Reps. Keating, Lynch Urge FEMA to Rescind Decision to Cancel Coastal Recovery Projects 2026-07-31 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Letter Text (PDF) Washington (July 31, 2026) - Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), along with and Representatives Bill Keating (MA-09) and Stephen Lynch (MA-08) urged Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 1 Acting Regional Administrator Jarrett Devine to rescind the decision to cancel coastal recovery projects in Massachusetts. Seven communities—Marshfield, Scituate, Hull, Quincy, Nahant, Gloucester, and Rockport—now face financial uncertainty in their paths to recover from extreme storms. On July 13, 2026, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) received a letter from FEMA Region 1 detailing its decision to cancel coastal recovery projects associated with four previous storms. The projects now in jeopardy include repairs to stormwalls, revetments, outfalls, and other critical infrastructure damaged by extreme weather. These harmful consequences will financially burden communities and result in the potential termination of these projects, putting residents and our coasts at unnecessary risk. “The decision to cancel these ongoing disaster recovery projects is arbitrary, reckless, and harmful,” said the lawmakers. “FEMA’s purpose should be to help communities recover after major disasters, and that is not a promise being upheld today. We urge FEMA to restore this funding, so our coasts and communities are adequately protected from extreme weather.” ### 1 2026-08-01T07:27:26Z 2026-08-01T07:28:22Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-and-cantwell-call-out-critical-gaps-in-fatal-accident-data-involving-large-trucks-and-buses Markey and Cantwell Call Out Critical Gaps in Fatal Accident Data Involving Large Trucks and Buses 2026-07-30 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper ProPublica/WBUR investigation found FMCSA undercounting bus and large truck crashes, injuries and fatalities, jeopardizing its mission to protect the safety of Americans and take action against unsafe companies FMCSA enforcement actions against carriers down 65% under Trump Washington (July 30, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, sent a letter to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Administrator Derek Barrs requesting information on the agency’s tracking of large truck and bus crashes following a ProPublica/WBUR investigative report that crash data is not being properly received and recorded. This lack of accurate data makes it difficult for FMCSA to appropriately sanction companies that put the public at risk. “According to the most recent data available, nearly 5,000 people were killed in crashes involving large trucks and buses in 2024,” wrote the senators. “The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) uses information from these crashes to identify specific truck and bus companies for targeted enforcement, which can range from a warning letter to being placed out-of-service. On June 8, 2026, ProPublica and WBUR reported their investigation found that FMCSA is missing critical crash data for a company that operates school buses, making it impossible for the agency to accurately identify and target high-risk motor carriers like these.” The ProPublica/WBUR investigation centered on an April 2025 school bus accident in Boston that killed a kindergartner after he was dropped off on the wrong side of the street. The driver was hired and trained by transnational bus company Transdev, and the investigation found that 42 fatal crashes involving Transdev over the past 10 years were missing from FMCSA records. ProPublica and WBUR also found that FMCSA’s own instructions to law enforcement about the attribution of… 1 2026-07-31T07:49:23Z 2026-07-31T07:50:48Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-jayapal-reintroduce-green-new-deal-for-public-schools-to-invest-in-students-schools-and-a-livable-future Markey, Jayapal Reintroduce Green New Deal for Public Schools to Invest in Students, Schools, and a Livable Future 2026-07-30 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Bill Text (PDF) Washington (July 30, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and the Environment and Public Works Committee, alongside Congresswoman Jayapal (WA-07) today reintroduced the Green New Deal for Public Schools Act, legislation that would infuse $1.6 trillion over the next decade to transform our public school system – investing in students, educators, and infrastructure – and respond to the climate crisis. “Every student in America deserves to learn in a school that lifts them up, not one that’s falling down. Across the country, kids are trying to learn in buildings with broken heat, leaky roofs, and hazardous ventilation systems,” said Senator Markey. “It’s time that we reinvest in our students, our planet, and our future. The Green New Deal for Public Schools Act is a step toward building up the next generation of leaders by securing educational justice, health justice, and environmental justice all in one.” “Public schools and a strong education system are the bedrock of our democracy. However, for decades, as school buildings have crumbled, as classes have doubled or tripled in size, and as the Trump administration has chipped away at programs to support kids’ mental health, American schools have fallen behind. In the richest country in the world, we should have the best public school system in the world. The Green New Deal for Public Schools, which I’m proud to lead with Senator Markey, would make investments in safe, healthy, zero-carbon, classrooms to lift up our students, teachers, administrators, and entire public education system,” said Congresswoman Jayapal. The Green New Deal for Public Schools Act would invest $1.6 trillion in public and Bureau of Indian Education schools over the next ten years to revitalize the K-12 education system and reduce hazardous pollution. It would also reverse harmful disinvestment in the public school system by investing in schools serving low-income students, tripling funding to su… 1 2026-07-31T07:49:23Z 2026-07-31T07:50:48Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-khanna-reintroduce-green-new-deal-for-health-to-invest-in-patients-workers-and-infrastructure-for-todays-climate-health-threats Markey, Khanna Reintroduce Green New Deal for Health to Invest in Patients, Workers, and Infrastructure for Today’s Climate-Health Threats 2026-07-28 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Bill Text (PDF) | One-Pager (PDF) Washington (July 28, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), top Democrat on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, and Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17) today reintroduced the Green New Deal for Health, legislation that will equip our country’s healthcare system to respond to the growing impacts of climate change and ensure all Americans have access to care in their communities. “This summer, Massachusetts has been hit with record-breaking temperatures, smoky air from wildfires, and flash floods. Every year that Washington waits to address the climate crisis, more people pay for it with their health,” said Senator Markey. “The Green New Deal for Health is a blueprint for a healthcare system that can withstand the crisis we're already living through, while putting patients and workers first. Our communities cannot afford for Congress to keep treating climate and health as separate issues. I’m thankful to partner with Congressman Khanna to fortify our health infrastructure with the urgency it requires.” “Across the world, hundreds of millions of people are already feeling the effects of climate change and the health consequences that often follow. From increased cases of asthma due to air pollution to disruptions at care facilities after extreme weather events, it's clear we need to take steps now to protect public health,” said Representative Khanna. “I’m proud to join Senator Markey in reintroducing the Green New Deal for Health, a sweeping bill that reimagines what our health care system can look like when we prioritize our people and our planet.” The Green New Deal for Health boldly reimagines a healthcare system that is prepared to protect the health and well-being of our workers, our communities, and our planet. Specifically, the legislation would: On healthcare access: Invests $130 billion over five years in community health centers through the Community Health Center Fund. On climate-resilient infr… 1 2026-07-29T07:41:48Z 2026-07-29T07:42:57Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-leader-schumer-ranking-member-peters-colleagues-raise-alarm-about-trumps-threats-to-send-armed-federal-agents-to-polling-sites-to-intimidate-voters-during-november-elections Markey, Leader Schumer, Ranking Member Peters, Colleagues Raise Alarm About Trump’s Threats to Send Armed Federal Agents to Polling Sites to Intimidate Voters During November Elections 2026-07-28 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Letter Text (PDF) Washington (July 28, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today led 11 colleagues in writing to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth demanding to know whether the Trump administration plans to deploy armed federal law enforcement officers at polling sites during the November 2026 elections, an escalation of the Administration’s assault on free and fair elections that is clearly meant to intimidate voters. The letter was signed by Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), and Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.). Beginning in October 2025, the Democratic National Committee submitted eleven Freedom of Information Act requests seeking records concerning the possible deployment of federal law enforcement officers to polling places, ballot-drop locations, and election offices. During ensuing litigation, ICE first represented that it had located no responsive records. But earlier this month, after its searches were challenged, ICE acknowledged finding more than 11,000 potentially responsive pages and U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it had turned up almost 117,000 records. These belated disclosures reinforce the fear that the Administration is planning a potentially unlawful, illegal, and unconstitutional intrusion into the November election. In the letter, the senators wrote, “In May, when President Trump was asked whether he would send the National Guard or ICE to polling places in November, he refused to rule it out, responding: ‘I’d do anything necessary to make sure we have honest elections.’ And earlier this month, President Trump delivered a prime-time address to the nation in whic… 1 2026-07-29T07:41:48Z 2026-07-29T07:42:57Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-markey-capito-collins-van-hollen-introduce-bill-to-support-alzheimers-research Senators Markey, Capito, Collins, Van Hollen Introduce Bill to Support Alzheimer’s Research 2026-07-24 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Bill Text (PDF) Washington (July 24, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, along with Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), introduced legislation to reauthorize the United States Postal Service (USPS) Alzheimer’s research stamp for an additional six years, allowing more funds to be raised for Alzheimer’s research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Semipostal stamps are sold by the U.S. Postal Service and are priced above the cost of postage to raise funds for causes of public interest, as directed by Congress. The U.S. Postal Service first issued the Alzheimer’s semipostal stamp in 2017 and has since sold over 11 million stamps in support of Alzheimer’s research. “My mother fought Alzheimer’s for thirteen years. My family’s story mirrors that of millions of Americans awaiting better treatments and a cure for this terrible disease,” said Senator Markey. “I am proud to lead the reauthorization of the Alzheimer’s semipostal stamp, which has raised almost $2 million for Alzheimer’s research. Every letter sent with an Alzheimer’s stamp offers hope to families, and gets us one step closer to a cure.” “Reauthorizing the Alzheimer's semipostal stamp will both maintain a source of funding for critically important Alzheimer’s research and will also help honor the memory and courage of those who have faced this heartbreaking disease directly. I have long been dedicated to pursuing a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, and I’m proud to join my colleagues to continue this initiative through the USPS,” said Senator Capito. “Alzheimer’s is one of the greatest public health challenges of our time, affecting more than seven million Americans, including more than 29,000 people in Maine,” said Senator Collins. “As a founder of the Alzheimer’s Task Force and Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I recently secured a $100 million inc… 1 2026-07-25T07:13:44Z 2026-07-25T07:15:09Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-jayapal-introduce-updated-legislation-to-set-strong-guardrails-for-private-equity-in-healthcare Markey, Jayapal Introduce Updated Legislation to Set Strong Guardrails for Private Equity in Healthcare 2026-07-23 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Bill Text (PDF) | One-Pager (PDF) Washington (July 23, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) today reintroduced the Health Over Wealth Act, legislation that would require greater transparency into private equity firms and for-profit companies that own healthcare entities, including hospitals, nursing homes, and mental or behavioral health facilities. The legislation would put safeguards in place to protect workers, patients, and healthcare quality, access, and safety; create stronger accountability measures for corporate greed; and close tax loopholes that benefit real estate investment trusts making money off of healthcare property. The bill includes a new provision subjecting private equity companies that own suppliers of medical equipment, such as wheelchairs and hospital beds, to transparency requirements. Private equity-owned wheelchair companies are causing dangerously long waits for wheelchair repairs for Massachusetts residents. “Corporate greed is running rampant in every industry, but it is especially dangerous in healthcare,” said Senator Markey. “When private equity firms put profit over patients, our loved ones are harmed, health workers suffer, and communities are left to clean up the mess. The Steward Health Care crisis in Massachusetts was just one symptom of a larger infection in our healthcare system that allows corporate wealth to come before the public’s health. We need guardrails against reckless corporate greed—and that is exactly what the Health Over Wealth Act provides. I am thankful to my partners, including Congresswoman Jayapal and my Senate colleagues, for their leadership in putting people before profit.” “For decades, private equity firms have been aggressively acquiring health care entities. That’s all-around bad news for patients as consolidation in the healthcare industry leads to worse health outcomes, less… 1 2026-07-24T07:30:11Z 2026-07-24T07:31:13Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-blumenthal-wyden-demand-ftc-reject-xs-frivolous-petition-to-evade-privacy-obligations Markey, Blumenthal, Wyden Demand FTC Reject X’s Frivolous Petition to Evade Privacy Obligations 2026-07-22 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Letter Text (PDF) Washington (July 22, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, along with Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today wrote to Andrew Ferguson, Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), urging the agency to reject X’s petition to terminate the company’s privacy responsibilities under a 2022 FTC order. The FTC unanimously approved the 2022 order in response to Twitter’s repeated privacy violations, which were well publicized before Elon Musk purchased the company and rebranded it as “X.” In its petition, X makes the extraordinary claim that rebranding Twitter as X somehow frees the company from the privacy obligations it inherited. Beyond this claim, X’s other arguments — that the order’s compliance is too costly, that the company should be trusted to self-regulate, and that ending the obligations under this order would serve the public interest in the American AI race — are similarly frivolous. The senators therefore call for the Commission to reject X’s self-serving attempt to evade its legal responsibilities. In the letter, the lawmakers wrote, “Despite X’s arguments otherwise, the company is no stranger to the 2022 order; it is Twitter’s successor. Although Twitter rebranded as X in 2023, X kept Twitter’s assets, its users, and their data. Notably, the FTC order contemplated such a corporate rebranding. The 2022 order defines ‘Respondent’ to include Twitter’s ‘successors and assigns,’ and its carve-out for genuinely distinct businesses applies only to entities that do not ‘collect, maintain, use, disclose, access, or provide access to’ data that previously enabled Twitter’s services — a condition X plainly does not meet. A name change and new leadership do not undo that legal continuity. If they did, any company could escape an FTC order simply by merging with a new entity or changing its name. The Commission should require X to comply with the 2022 order it inherited.” The lawmakers continued, “… 1 2026-07-23T07:31:02Z 2026-07-23T07:32:26Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-blunt-rochester-lead-senate-democrats-in-seeking-to-pass-house-bill-designating-haiti-for-temporary-protected-status Markey, Blunt Rochester Lead Senate Democrats in Seeking to Pass House Bill Designating Haiti for Temporary Protected Status 2026-07-22 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Watch: Senators Markey, colleagues urge Senate to designate Haiti for TPS Washington (July 22, 2026) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) today led Senate Democrats on the Senate Floor in seeking to pass the House bill that would designate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) blocked its passage. Senators Markey and Blunt Rochester, along with Representative Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), have been championing Representative Laura Gillen’s (NY-04) House bill H.R. 1689, which passed the House in April. “For generations, Massachusetts has been shaped by our immigrant communities. We have a moral duty to protect Haitian TPS holders and provide them with a permanent pathway to citizenship. I am utterly disappointed that Republicans blocked passage of the bill I introduced with Senator Blunt Rochester to designate Haiti for TPS until after the next presidential election. Haitian TPS holders deserve the stability of preserving their status, the dignity to live without fear, and the security of not being returned to danger. I will not stop in my fight to protect the Haitian TPS community,” said Senator Markey. “The Trump Administration’s attempt to uproot Haitian TPS holders and send them back to a country in complete chaos is as cruel as it is harmful to our communities. TPS was created to give people fleeing unrest in their home countries a safe place to call home - born out of the American spirit of welcoming immigrants seeking a better life,” said Senator Blunt Rochester. “It’s time for Congress to step in, stand up for the core values that built America, and extend TPS for Haitian immigrants.” Senator Markey has worked consistently to protect TPS for Haiti and support the Haitian community in Massachusetts amid the Trump administration’s attacks on TPS and Haitians. On June 25, after the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump administration’s termination of TPS for Haiti and Syria in the consolidated case, Mullin v. Doe, Senator… 1 2026-07-23T07:31:02Z 2026-07-23T07:32:26Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-decries-trump-saudi-nuclear-deal-irresponsible-and-dangerous Markey Decries Trump-Saudi Nuclear Deal: “Irresponsible and Dangerous” 2026-07-22 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Senator Rubio was against Saudi nuclear deal before Secretary Rubio was for it Washington (July 22, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), co-chair of the bicameral Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group, today released the following statement on Trump’s deal with Saudi Arabia that would open the door to providing the Kingdom with the most sensitive nuclear technologies without requiring the most stringent safeguards against the development of nuclear weapons. “As a Senator, Secretary Rubio was among the loudest voices warning about the dangers of giving Saudi Arabia, which has openly vowed to develop nuclear weapons, access to nuclear technology. Now, Secretary Rubio and President Trump risk the security of the United States and its allies in the Middle East by potentially enabling nuclear proliferation in Saudi Arabia and igniting an arms race in the region. Let us be clear: allowing Saudi Arabia to develop nuclear weapons would be irresponsible and dangerous. “Since the start of his second term, President Trump has launched two illegal attacks against Iran, in part to prevent Tehran from enriching uranium. Ironically, the administration is now opening the door for Saudi Arabia to gain access to that same technology. The Trump administration has needlessly abandoned the ‘Gold Standard,’ which would ban enrichment and reprocessing and require International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) additional protocol safeguards. “Trump’s and Secretary Rubio’s hypocrisy is matched only by their recklessness. They are allowing Saudi Arabia, a belligerent and authoritarian nation, to develop nuclear weapons technologies while starting a war with Iran under the guise of preventing an Iranian nuclear bomb. This deal would make us all less safe. We must stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons.” As a founder of the national Nuclear Freeze movement, Senator Markey has long been the Congressional leader on ending the proliferation of nuclear weapons. On March 25, Senators Markey and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) reintrodu… 1 2026-07-23T07:31:02Z 2026-07-23T07:32:26Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/momentum-builds-for-senator-markeys-legislation-to-protect-kids-from-ai-chatbots Momentum Builds for Senator Markey’s Legislation to Protect Kids from AI Chatbots 2026-07-21 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Bill Text (PDF) | One-Pager (PDF) Washington (July 21, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today announced new support for his Youth AI Privacy Act, legislation that would require artificial intelligence (AI) companies to implement privacy safeguards in their AI chatbots. Senator Markey introduced the legislation in March 2026. In 2025, approximately two-thirds of teenagers reported using AI chatbots, and roughly a quarter reported using them daily. In a tragic case, a teenager died by suicide after encouragement or advice from an AI chatbot. The following organizations are endorsing the Youth AI Privacy Act: Fairplay, Consumer Federation of America (CFA), Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), Common Sense Media, Center for Digital Democracy (CDD), Public Knowledge, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Becca Schmill Foundation, Issue One, Jewish Family and Children’s Services, Jesuit Conference Office of Justice and Ecology, Mothers Against Media Addiction, (MAMA), The Tech Oversight Project, InnovateEDU, Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT), Transparency Coalition, The National Decency Coalition, All Girls Allowed, The Alliance for Secure AI. “The new support for my Youth AI Privacy Act sends a clear message to Big Tech: stop exploiting kids through manipulative AI chatbots,” said Senator Markey. “Parents, kids, and families across the country are rightfully demanding strong protections against AI chatbots. My Youth AI Privacy Act answers that call by prohibiting AI companies from using invasive and manipulative design tricks that exploit young people’s emotions and foster dependency on AI chatbots. I look forward to working with my Senate Commerce Committee colleagues to advance this legislation.” “The Becca Schmill Foundation is proud to endorse Senator Markey's Youth AI Privacy Act. Children and teens deserve strong protections in the age of AI. At a time when young people continue to face growing risks to their privac… 1 2026-07-22T07:34:13Z 2026-07-22T07:35:16Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-calls-for-comprehensive-plan-to-combat-health-environmental-economic-effects-of-wildfires Markey Calls for Comprehensive Plan to Combat Health, Environmental, Economic Effects of Wildfires 2026-07-18 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Letter Text (PDF) Boston (July 18, 2026) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, today sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin and Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Doug Burgum, urging the agencies to respond to any requests for immediate fire assistance and develop a longer-term plan, in coordination with Canada, to manage the increasingly frequent and severe cross-border wildfire smoke events. Senator Markey expressed concerns about the lack of planning amidst the ongoing U.S.-Canada cross-border emergency that has prompted air quality alerts, public health harm, and economic losses across the Midwest and Eastern Seaboard of the United States. Senator Markey wrote, “Despite this ongoing emergency and a growing pattern of large-scale U.S.-Canada wildfire smoke events in recent years, there has been little public coordinated activity from the administration to combat this crisis and no indication that the federal government is working to improve its ability to address future cross-border wildfire smoke incidents. In fact, the central federal message so far has been President Trump’s announcement that he will add the cost of wildfire pollution to the tariffs that he wishes to assess on Canada.” Senator Markey continued, “Like the climate crisis, the wildfire crisis is a shared crisis. It does not respect national boundaries, and our response cannot stop at our border. We must have a federal government that responds to crises effectively and quickly, invests in institutions that can match the evolving scale of climate change and its impacts, and work together with our neighbors – not against them – to ensure our mutual health and wellbeing.” In his letter, Senator Markey asked that the administration respond to any requests for assistance that have been made by the Government of Canada or its Provincial/Territorial Governments through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) to the National Interagenc… 1 2026-07-19T07:26:21Z 2026-07-19T07:27:48Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-makes-unscheduled-oversight-visit-to-maine-ice-field-office-following-fatal-shooting-leaves-with-more-alarming-questions-than-answers Markey Makes Unscheduled Oversight Visit to Maine ICE Field Office Following Fatal Shooting, Leaves with More Alarming Questions Than Answers 2026-07-17 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Boston (July 17, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today released the following statement after conducting an official unscheduled oversight visit at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) field office in Scarborough, Maine, where he demanded answers about the recent, nearby shooting and killing of 26-year-old Johan Sebastián Guerrero by an ICE officer. “The officer who shot Johan Guerrero works out of this office, and it’s completely unacceptable that ICE has withheld from the public the details surrounding his murder,” said Senator Markey. “I was also informed that the office does not have body cameras for its officers, despite ICE having already received billions of dollars more in funding from Trump and Republicans just this year. There is no excuse for the lack of documentation and accountability around Johan Guerrero’s death despite the extraordinary amount of money that Trump and his Republican allies have given to ICE.” “ICE is terrorizing people, from children and parents on their way to school drop-off, to workers and small business owners at their places of work. We need to get ICE off our streets and out of our communities. It’s long past time we abolish ICE.” Yesterday, Senator Markey and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) wrote to the ICE Boston Field Office in Burlington, Massachusetts, demanding a full, transparent, and independent accounting of this killing, given the office’s direct jurisdiction over enforcement operations in Maine and New England. In January 2026, Senator Markey wrote to the ICE Boston Field Office, demanding answers about conditions at the field office in Burlington, Massachusetts, and the conduct of ICE agents in the Commonwealth. This letter followed Senator Markey’s previous December letter, raising concerns about the cruel conditions at the Burlington field office. Senator Markey and Representative Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) have introduced the Qualified Immunity Abolition Act of 2026, which would grant victims the right to sue federal law enforcem… 1 2026-07-18T06:58:50Z 2026-07-18T07:00:34Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-markey-warren-demand-answers-from-burlington-ice-field-office-following-fatal-shooting-in-maine Senators Markey, Warren Demand Answers from Burlington ICE Field Office Following Fatal Shooting in Maine 2026-07-16 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Letter Text (PDF) Washington (July 16, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) today wrote to David Wesling, Acting Field Office Director for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Boston Field Office, following an ICE agent’s killing of Joan Sebastian Guerrero, a 26-year-old man, in Biddeford, Maine earlier this week. This is the second fatal shooting by ICE in less than a week—the other being the July 7 fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, Texas—and it follows a string of other tragic and preventable deaths at the hands of ICE agents in recent months. Given the Burlington Field Office’s direct jurisdiction over enforcement operations in Maine and New England, the senators demand a full, transparent, and independent accounting of this killing. In the letter, the senators wrote, “The killings of both Mr. Guerrero and Mr. Araujo reflect a disturbing pattern: warrantless, aggressive, and indiscriminate ICE enforcement operations ending in the loss of life. In the last few days, ICE has sharply escalated enforcement activity nationwide. Over a five-day span in late June, ICE agents made more than 10,000 arrests nationwide, roughly 2,000 per day, following the White House’s request for increased arrests. In Massachusetts, this surge has hit hard: ICE has been detaining people at ICE check-ins and biometrics appointments, in the street and at traffic stops, triggering alarm from immigrant advocates who report increased detentions of individuals, including many without criminal history. Meanwhile, in Maine, ICE activity has continued even after the January enforcement surge which ICE dubbed ‘Operation Catch of the Day.’ The incursion of ICE into our cities and the drastic uptick in enforcement have heightened the risk of volatile and harmful encounters, making our communities less safe.” In both Mr. Araujo and Mr. Guerrero’s cases, DHS confirmed that the victims were not the target of ICE’s operations and that agents were not wearing body cameras.… 1 2026-07-17T07:15:58Z 2026-07-17T07:17:05Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-celebrates-senate-passage-of-his-caring-for-caregivers-agenda-provisions Senator Markey Celebrates Senate Passage of His “Caring for Caregivers” Agenda Provisions 2026-07-15 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Washington (July 15, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), top Democrat on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, applauded the Senate’s unanimous passage of the Older Americans Act (OAA) Reauthorization Act, which included provisions from the Senator’s “Caring for Caregivers” agenda and other bills to weatherize and improve the air quality of older Americans’ homes, improve caregiver assessments used to identify barriers to resources, expand family caregiver supports such as respite care and peer support, and promote medically tailored meals and other Food is Medicine interventions. “The work of family caregivers is personal to me. When my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, my father cared for her in our home in Malden for thirteen years,” said Senator Markey. “My provisions to expand family caregivers’ access to peer and respite care, increase access to medically tailored meals, and weatherize older Americans’ homes are the types of supports I wish my father had. I’m proud to have the full support of the Senate in advancing this legislation, and I’ll continue working to make these programs a reality for the millions of caretakers in this country.” Senator Markey’s provisions in the OAA Reauthorization Act include: Allowing home modification funding to be used for weatherization projects, based on his Home Modifications for the Climate Crisis Act. Improving the air quality of older Americans’ homes and residences, based on his Home Modifications for the Climate Crisis Act. Amending caregiver assessments under the National Family Caregiver Support Program to improve the accessibility, quality of information, supports, and services, available to caregivers, based on his Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers (ABC) Act. Including peer support as an eligible supportive service for family caregivers, based on his Family Caregiver Peer Support Act. Including respite care as an eligible supportive service to promote convenience and accessi… 1 2026-07-16T07:21:44Z 2026-07-16T07:23:13Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-markey-warren-secure-key-wins-for-massachusetts-in-water-infrastructure-bill Senators Markey, Warren Secure Key Wins for Massachusetts in Water Infrastructure Bill 2026-07-15 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Water Resources Development Act passes through Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Washington (July 15, 2026) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) today celebrated the favorable committee vote on the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (S. 4949), which included key priorities from the senators to support water infrastructure projects in Massachusetts, authorize billions of dollars in funding for clean and drinking water infrastructure, and authorize millions in grant funding for water system emergencies. “Improving our water infrastructure will bring down costs for families, prevent future wastewater emergencies, and better equip Massachusetts for the climate crisis,” said Senator Markey. “This legislation delivers cleaner, safer, more reliable water infrastructure from Haverhill to North Adams, and across the nation.” The senators secured several crucial victories for Massachusetts. The legislation: Ensures the Army Corps moves forward with the Hoosic River flood risk feasibility study and uses criteria that better account for the project’s economic, safety, and environmental benefits. This provision is an important step toward securing Army Corps support for future flood risk mitigation work in North Adams. Increases the authorization for the Army Corps to assist with wastewater infrastructure improvements in Haverhill following the wastewater emergency along the Merrimack River. Expedites the City of Boston’s coastal storm risk management project by allowing the project to move forward without having to meet overly burdensome planning requirements; authorizes new feasibility studies to evaluate solutions to prevent flood risk in Chelsea, Everett, the Charles River, the Chase Garden Creek, Attleboro, Woburn, Fitchburg, Hadley, and the Boston Harbor. Authorizes dredging in the Essex and Ipswich Rivers to remove contamination and improve the navigability. Authorizes the Congr… 1 2026-07-16T07:21:44Z 2026-07-16T07:23:13Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-markey-reps-garcia-and-fitzpatrick-reintroduce-legislation-to-strengthen-supports-for-airport-service-workers Sen. Markey, Reps. García and Fitzpatrick Reintroduce Legislation to Strengthen Supports for Airport Service Workers 2026-07-14 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Bill Text (PDF) Washington (July 14, 2026) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Representatives Chuy García (IL-04) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) today reintroduced the Good Jobs for Good Airports Act, legislation that would improve wages and working conditions for airport service workers. The legislation would also support working families and help stabilize the air travel industry as airlines pocket record profits while airport service workers remain stuck at minimum wage. “These workers serve through extreme temperatures, holiday travel surges, and even pandemics — yet too many still struggle with low pay, unaffordable care, and rising costs,” said Senator Markey. “Because airports are the gateway to the world for travelers, they must also be the gateway to stable, middle-class jobs for workers. I am proud to partner with Congressmen Garcia and Fitzpatrick to lead this bipartisan, pro-worker legislation.” “America’s airports support millions of jobs and move hundreds of millions of travelers each year. While U.S. airlines generated $6 billion in profit last year, airport frontline workers, who are predominantly Latino, Black and immigrant, are barely making ends meet. In fact 7 per cent of them live under the poverty level,” said Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García. “The Good Jobs for Good Airports Act, seeks to ensure airport workers, who make our air travel possible, get the dignity and compensation they deserve for their hard work.” “Airport workers keep millions of Americans moving every day—and a job that keeps America moving should be a job that lets a family get ahead. The Good Jobs for Good Airports Act will raise wages, strengthen benefits, and ensure these workers finally receive the dignity and respect they’ve earned. It’s past time Congress made sure good jobs take off at every airport in America,” said Senator Schumer. “Airport service workers are entrusted every day with the safety, order, and reliability of one of the most complex transportation systems in the world. We cannot ask them to … 1 2026-07-15T07:12:08Z 2026-07-15T07:13:45Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-statement-on-the-wrongful-detention-of-dr-youlin-chen Senator Markey Statement on the Wrongful Detention of Dr. Youlin Chen 2026-07-14 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Washington (July 14, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement on the detention of Massachusetts resident and academic Dr. Youlin Chen by the Chinese government. “The wrongful detainment of innocent civilians is never justifiable. It is a morally bankrupt tool that authoritarian governments use to sidestep the rule of law, often in service of political wins and always at the devastating expense of civilian lives. “My constituent, Dr. Youlin Chen, is one of those civilians. Dr. Chen has been wrongfully detained by the Chinese government since November 2024. He is a prominent seismologist who has worked collaboratively with Chinese seismologists for years, and his work is highly respected. He has never held a security clearance, and his work is transparent, academic in nature, and publicly reported and attributed. As academics and researchers from the United States and China have long collaborated to the mutual benefit of our countries, the treatment of Dr. Chen has undermined that partnership and may deter other academics from engaging with their colleagues in China. “To be very clear, Dr. Chen has not been convicted of a crime. Dr. Chen has been held in pre-trial detention since his arrest and did not have access to his lawyer for 434 days. He has also not spoken to his family since his arrest. I am deeply concerned about Dr. Chen’s safety and well-being. “I have been working closely with Dr. Chen’s family since his arrest. I urged Secretary Marco Rubio more than once to designate Dr. Chen as wrongfully detained under the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act. I am glad this designation has finally been made. I have personally engaged with Ambassador Xie Feng on Dr. Chen’s case and urged him to work with his colleagues in Beijing to secure Dr. Chen’s release. I will continue to do everything within my power to advocate for Dr. Chen’s immediate release. “Wrongful detainment is a cowardly practice with no winners. Today and every day, the Unite… 1 2026-07-15T07:12:08Z 2026-07-15T07:13:45Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-markey-and-warren-rep-trahan-introduce-legislation-to-provide-grants-for-local-water-infrastructure-emergencies Sens. Markey and Warren, Rep. Trahan Introduce Legislation to Provide Grants for Local Water Infrastructure Emergencies 2026-07-14 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Bill Text (PDF) Washington (July 14, 2026) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) today introduced the Water Emergency and Technical Assistance Act, legislation to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize emergency assistance and grants for clean water and drinking water infrastructure. When severe rainstorms this July caused a sewer pipe to break in Haverhill, Massachusetts, millions of gallons of untreated wastewater flowed into the Merrimack River, endangering public safety and resulting in economic losses from beach and fisheries closures. This legislation would provide technical and financial support to water treatment facilities during emergency situations in order to prevent and mitigate threats to public health, such as exposure to contaminants. “Water system emergencies spell disaster for their communities—they’re expensive, bad for business, and dangerous to public health. Our communities deserve clean water and quick access to support in response to emergency situations that put their health and economies in danger,” said Senators Markey and Warren. “The federal government should be able to provide emergency grants for emergency situations. This legislation would authorize grants for clean water and drinking water, so we can spend more time keeping our communities safe and local businesses open, and less time hiking rates and fighting pollution.” “Haverhill showed us what happens when a century-old system fails and the federal government is nowhere to be found. Cities were left to fight sewage flowing into the Merrimack with local dollars and borrowed time,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “Our bill fixes that. It puts real federal money on the table the moment an emergency like this hits, so no community has to face it alone.” On July 2, Senators Markey and Warren wrote to four federal agencies regarding the potential need for… 1 2026-07-15T07:12:08Z 2026-07-15T07:13:45Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-releases-discussion-draft-of-legislation-to-create-a-national-framework-to-address-data-center-harm Senator Markey Releases Discussion Draft of Legislation to Create a National Framework to Address Data Center Harm 2026-07-13 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Discussion Draft Text (PDF) Washington (July 13, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and co-chair of the Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, today released a discussion draft of legislation that would create a national framework to prevent increased energy costs, pollution, and adverse health harms related to the rapid buildout of data centers and associated fossil fuel infrastructure. “Communities are organizing and demanding action to protect their air, water, energy bills, and quality of life from the tsunami of data centers around the country,” said Senator Markey. “For an issue as fast-moving and important to American families - the surging proliferation of data centers - we need a national framework that can proactively tackle all of these issues together. I will be working with communities, workers, and other stakeholders to learn from state and local level measures, and collaborate on this comprehensive platform that prioritizes protection, builds community capacity and resilience, and takes action against rising pollution and rising energy bills due to data centers.” The Protecting Communities from Data Center Impacts Act would: Require data centers to receive a certificate from the federal government prior to permitting and construction that affirms the data center will not harm the public interest and will meet minimum standards for energy, environmental, and economic impacts Provide grants to build community capacity and support technical assistance to monitor and mitigate air, water, noise, and other environmental and public health impacts from data centers Require data centers pay for necessary grid infrastructure and enter into agreements to reduce their energy demand during times of grid stress Require data centers fund renewable energy and storage to meet their capacity needs, rather than use on-site diesel Require high labor standards for construction Senator Markey is an outspoken critic of the Trump administration’s … 1 2026-07-14T07:08:55Z 2026-07-14T07:10:52Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-releases-the-ai-accountability-agenda-taking-power-back-from-big-tech Senator Markey Releases “The AI Accountability Agenda: Taking Power Back from Big Tech” 2026-07-10 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Includes new legislation requiring data centers fund clean energy and storage to meet their capacity needs Full Agenda (PDF) Boston (July 10, 2026) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today released his AI Accountability Agenda: Taking Power Back from Big Tech, a new vision for artificial intelligence (AI) policy in Congress. The comprehensive agenda responds to the risks posed by AI and lays out specific policy proposals to protect communities from the immediate harms of AI. Senator Markey is releasing his agenda as the American people reckon with the real threats posed by AI. While Big Tech is making billions off its pitch that the benefits of AI are nearly limitless, the costs and the risks — to kids, workers, the planet, our health, our rights, and our communities — are nearly limitless as well. Senator Markey’s agenda proposes a comprehensive framework and common-sense legislation to address the harms that the American people are facing every day from AI. Senator Markey said, “For too long, the conversation about artificial intelligence has been about what’s next — the next breakthrough, the next headline, the next promise of the future. But the American people need more than future promises; they need answers to what’s happening right now. From discriminatory algorithms deciding who gets a home or a loan, data centers invading their neighborhoods, employers using AI to surveil and control workers, or kids turning to chatbots in moments of crisis and getting coached toward harm instead of help, AI is defining daily life right now, and people need protections.” Senator Markey continued, “The risks are the lived reality of AI for millions of Americans — and they deserve policymakers who are paying attention to their lives, not Big Tech’s bottom line. That is why I have been working for more than a decade to propose commonsense policies to take back unchecked power from Big Tech and put it into the hands of the American people. And it’s why t… 1 2026-07-11T07:10:48Z 2026-07-11T07:14:29Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/joint-statement-from-senators-markey-and-warren-representatives-lynch-and-pressley-mayor-wu-on-nurses-strike Joint Statement from Senators Markey and Warren, Representatives Lynch and Pressley, Mayor Wu on Nurses Strike 2026-07-07 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Boston (July 7, 2026) - Today, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), top Democrat on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), along with Representatives Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Stephen Lynch (MA-08), and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu released the following statement urging the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) and Mass General Brigham (MGB) to return to the bargaining table and resume negotiations: “Nurses are the backbone of our health care system, and we rely on their skills, compassion, and tireless work ethic to care for our loved ones. The nurses at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Mass General Brigham Homecare deserve a fair contract that reflects the essential contributions they make each and every day. “We urge all parties to return to the bargaining table and reach a good faith agreement that provides stability for this critical workforce, Mass General Brigham, and the patients in their collective care.” ### 1 2026-07-08T07:27:19Z 2026-07-08T07:28:28Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-applauds-more-than-25-million-for-safer-roads-in-massachusetts Senator Markey Applauds More Than $25 Million for Safer Roads in Massachusetts 2026-07-06 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Boston (July 6, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today celebrated more than $25 million in Fiscal Year 2026 Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) funds from the Department of Transportation (DOT) for Massachusetts. The funds will be used to improve road safety along high traffic corridors by building roundabouts, widening sidewalks, and adding traffic signals at dangerous intersections. Senator Markey was instrumental in advocating for the BUILD program which was authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. “Massachusetts is leading the nation addressing the road safety crisis,” said Senator Markey. “These investments will make our roads safer and our communities more livable. I’m proud to have fought for this funding as a part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.” Yarmouth-Barnstable Route 28 Improvements Town of Yarmouth $25,000,000 This project will construct a new multilane roundabout and a new traffic signal installation, along with three other traffic signal upgrades along the Route 28 corridor. City of Malden Broadway Reconstruction Project City of Malden $1,584,000 The project will advance the Broadway roadway reconstruction from 25 percent design to final design. The project will include a consistent two-lane roadway with appropriate turn lanes at intersections, upgraded sidewalks, a new signalized intersection at Taylor and Grover Streets, drainage improvements, stormwater control measures, updated signage, and a suite of safety countermeasures. ### 1 2026-07-07T08:20:12Z 2026-07-07T08:22:09Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-statement-on-one-year-since-trump-and-republicans-big-ugly-bill Senator Markey Statement on One Year Since Trump and Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill 2026-07-02 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Boston (July 2, 2026) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement ahead of the one-year anniversary of Donald Trump’s disastrous “One Big Beautiful Bill.” “Trump and Republicans traded basic needs for billionaire greed,” said Senator Markey. “This was really One Big Ugly Bill to make life harder for working families while making life easier for billionaire CEOs and corporate special interests. Trump cut deals while making cuts to our energy supply. He’s brought in profits for himself, while looting the pockets of hard-working families. Trump has increased healthcare costs and gasoline prices, yet Americans are still having to foot the bill for Trump’s corruption. This fight is far from over. I won’t stop until we roll back all of the cuts to our social safety net and reverse the billionaire tax cuts.” Since the Big Ugly Bill was enacted: Five million people, including almost 40,000 in Massachusetts, have dropped their Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance coverage this year due to skyrocketing costs. In Massachusetts, people who renewed their ACA health plans saw their annual premiums increase on average by $1,000 compared to 2025. Since OBBBA went into effect, 175,000 Bay Staters, including almost 62,000 children, have lost their SNAP nutrition assistance. Since January 2026, due to the OBBBA and other actions from the Trump administration, nearly 144,000 jobs have been lost or stalled in the clean energy sector and more than 34,000 megawatts of clean capacity were canceled or delayed, which could have powered 17 million American homes. ### 1 2026-07-03T08:00:00Z 2026-07-03T08:01:30Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-markey-and-warren-advocate-for-federal-assistance-following-sewer-break-along-merrimack-river Senators Markey and Warren Advocate for Federal Assistance Following Sewer Break Along Merrimack River 2026-07-02 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Letter (PDF) Boston (July 2, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee and Ranking Member of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, today wrote with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) to four federal agencies regarding the potential need for federal assistance following the sewer line break that released contaminants into the Merrimack River. In their letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Senators raise the environmental, public health, and economic concerns for the Merrimack Valley and North Shore following last week’s sewer pipe break in Haverhill. “Officials are continuously monitoring the contamination levels in the river and on the North Shore to determine when it is safe for people to fish, work, and recreate in the waters. As part of these efforts, the Commonwealth will determine whether federal assistance is necessary in responding to the environmental or economic impacts stemming from the discharge,” wrote Senators Markey and Warren. “Our offices and the Commonwealth have already been in touch with several of your agencies, and we are grateful for your engagement. Should Massachusetts officials determine that the concerns raised by residents, the shellfishing community, and other businesses along the river and the coast exceed the Commonwealth’s ability to respond and require emergency support from the federal government, we respectfully ask that you quickly review any request from Governor Maura Healey and expedite all appropriate federal relief.” On June 26, 2026, a significant rainstorm in the Merrimack Valley caused two sewer pipe breaks in Haverhill, sending an estimated 8 million gallons of untreated wastewater a day into the Merrimack River. On July 1, the break was repaired, stopping new flows of wastewater. As a result of this breakage and concerns about the amoun… 1 2026-07-03T08:00:00Z 2026-07-03T08:01:30Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-joins-colleagues-in-demanding-omb-rescind-rule-giving-president-sweeping-power-to-politicize-federal-grants Markey Joins Colleagues in Demanding OMB Rescind Rule Giving President Sweeping Power to Politicize Federal Grants 2026-07-02 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Washington (July 2, 2026) — Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today joined Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee; Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Democratic Leader; Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee; and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, and the entire Senate Democratic caucus in demanding Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought immediately rescind OMB’s proposed regulation on federal financial assistance. The Senators warned the proposal exceeds OMB’s statutory authority, undermines Congress’s constitutional power of the purse, and would allow the President to weaponize federal grants for political purposes. “Your proposal exceeds OMB’s authority, will make it impossible for grant recipients to faithfully carry out the funding priorities that Congress establishes in statute, and would turn federal grants into a new cudgel for the President to unilaterally advance his partisan agenda and punish political rivals,” the Senators wrote. “Ultimately, these changes will make it harder for grant recipients to apply for and manage federal funds – undermining public safety, public health, economic competitiveness, and the government’s ability to address rising costs.” The proposed rule would dramatically expand agencies’ authority to terminate or suspend federal grants at any time and without notice. It would also require political appointees to make funding decisions without deferring to expert peer review. The Senators warn this would inject partisan politics into grantmaking, threaten America’s leadership in scientific and medical innovation, and create chaos for communities and organizations that rely on federal funding to deliver critical services. “Rather than focusing on fulfilling the statutory purposes of a grant program, applicants and recipients will be forced to play an endless guessing game, trying to determine which of their activities may or may not … 1 2026-07-15T07:12:08Z 2026-07-15T07:13:45Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/ahead-of-the-nations-250th-anniversary-senator-markey-rep-ramirez-introduce-resolution-to-reaffirm-commitment-to-immigrant-inclusion Ahead of the Nation’s 250th Anniversary, Senator Markey, Rep. Ramirez Introduce Resolution to Reaffirm Commitment to Immigrant Inclusion 2026-07-01 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Resolution Text (PDF) Washington (July 1, 2026) – As the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Congresswoman Delia Ramirez (IL-03) introduced a resolution to reaffirm Congress’s role in upholding the principles of equality, dignity, and justice for all. Past administrations have supported the inclusion of newcomers by expanding access to English-language education, workforce training, and due process protections. In stark contrast, the Trump administration has targeted the immigrant community through mass detentions and deportations. The resolution commits Congress to pursuing policies that safeguard immigrants’ rights, broaden economic opportunity, and build humane, equitable pathways to full inclusion. “The United States draws its strength from unity and inclusion, not from fear and division,” said Senator Markey. “This resolution rejects hateful policies that terrorize our immigrant neighbors and calls on the Senate to invest in inclusion, celebrate the contributions of immigrants, and honor our nation’s human rights commitments. A just, equitable future requires fostering belonging for all who call our nation home.” “The 250th anniversary of our country presents us with an opportunity to reflect on our enduring - BUT NOT YET FULFILLED - commitment to the principles of liberty and justice for everyone, regardless of legal status, origin, nationality, religion, or economic condition. It is an opportunity to prove that we recognize the contribution of immigrant communities, and affirm that they are seen, heard, and valued,” said Congresswoman Ramirez. “As Members of Congress, we are called to challenge and transform systems that deny our communities’ dignity and justice. That's why I am proud to join Senator Markey and a coalition of organizations to introduce a resolution calling on Congress to ensure justice and dignity for immigrant communities.” Specifically, the Resolution calls on the Senate to: Mark the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary by celebrating the c… 1 2026-07-02T06:20:02Z 2026-07-02T06:21:32Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-and-representative-frost-sound-alarm-after-trump-admin-evades-questions-on-database-of-protesters Senator Markey and Representative Frost Sound Alarm After Trump Admin. Evades Questions on Database of Protesters 2026-07-01 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Letter Text (PDF) | Response from DHS Washington (July 1, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Representative Maxwell Frost (FL-10) today sent a letter to Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Markwayne Mullin and David Venturella, Senior Official Performing Duties of the Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), renewing their calls for a clear answer on whether ICE has created a database to track protesters. In responses to separate letters that Senator Markey and Representative Frost sent to DHS and ICE in February, the agency evaded the lawmakers’ questions about whether ICE maintains a database of protesters. In response to Senator Markey’s letter, ICE ignored his question and instead stated that it does not “approve adding individuals or entities to the U.S. government’s Terrorist Screening Dataset.” By contrast, in response to Representative Frost’s letter, ICE stated that it “does not maintain any kind of database of U.S. citizens protesting ICE activities.” This denial, however, has a significant exception: the agency also said it has “collected information to identify individuals reasonably believed to be involved in, or directly supporting, potential violations of federal law and to address officer safety and facility security concerns,” suggesting that ICE may have relabeled a protester database as a database of individuals who pose a “risk” to officers. In their new oversight letter, Senator Markey and Representative Frost demand that DHS and ICE reconcile their different responses and be transparent with the American people on whether their civil liberties are being violated. The letter also requests additional information about whether DHS is investigating an ICE officer who threatened to add the personal information of a woman in Portland, Maine, to “a nice little database.” In ICE’s response to Senator Markey’s letter, which he is releasing today, DHS alluded to — but failed to confirm… 1 2026-07-02T06:20:02Z 2026-07-02T06:21:32Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-applauds-us-supreme-court-decision-on-birthright-citizenship Markey Applauds U.S. Supreme Court Decision on Birthright Citizenship 2026-06-30 2026 2026-06 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Boston (June 30, 2026) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled in Trump v. Barbara that children born in the United States to parents who are undocumented or temporarily in the country are U.S. citizens. “The Supreme Court reaffirmed a constitutional truth that has guided our nation for more than 150 years: if you are born on American soil, you are an American,” said Senator Markey. “We are, and always have been, a nation of immigrants. And this ideal, written into the Fourteenth Amendment, cannot be rewritten with the stroke of a Sharpie. But the fight is far from over. The Trump administration remains intent on destroying immigrant families, and on trampling on due process and the rule of law. We must stay vigilant and continue to defend the American promise of equal citizenship, inclusion, and opportunity.” ### 1 2026-07-01T06:34:07Z 2026-07-01T06:35:35Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-markey-rep-mcclellan-lead-colleagues-in-condemning-epas-attempt-to-let-data-centers-fossil-fuel-plants-and-other-major-facilities-evade-core-clean-air-act-protections Sen. Markey, Rep. McClellan Lead Colleagues in Condemning EPA’s Attempt to Let Data Centers, Fossil Fuel Plants, and Other Major Facilities Evade Core Clean Air Act Protections 2026-06-30 2026 2026-06 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Letter Text (PDF) Boston (June 30, 2026) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), co-chair of the bicameral Environmental Justice Caucus and member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, along with Representative Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), led a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin urging the agency to withdraw a proposed rulemaking that would allow major polluting facilities—including data centers and fossil fuel plants—to begin construction activities without securing air quality permits required under federal law. The New Source Review (NSR) program, established by Congress as part of the Clean Air Act in 1977, requires that polluting facilities obtain permits before any construction or expansion takes place. This allows EPA to assess and minimize the harm that these facilities could pose to the health and well-being of the environment and surrounding communities. In a major shift from prior interpretation of the law, the EPA released a proposed rule in May that would allow polluting facilities to start construction without a permit, including on piping, wiring, cement pads, and support structures. This proposed rule will expose communities to more direct harm and places substantial pressure on permitting decisions before EPA review is complete. The lawmakers wrote, “Congress created the NSR program to stop dangerous polluting projects before irreversible commitments are made, not after construction is already underway and permit approval has become politically difficult to deny. EPA’s proposal turns that system on its head. Communities should not be forced to bear additional pollution because EPA chose to prioritize the financial interests of developers and fossil fuel companies over the Clean Air Act’s public-health protections. We urge you to withdraw this proposed rule and preserve the Clean Air Act’s preconstruction permitting safeguards.” The letter was signed by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Ron Wyden (D… 1 2026-07-01T06:34:07Z 2026-07-01T06:35:35Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-applauds-supreme-court-ruling-protecting-voting-by-mail Markey Applauds Supreme Court Ruling Protecting Voting by Mail 2026-06-29 2026 2026-06 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Boston (June 29, 2026) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Watson v. Republican National Committee to uphold a state law mandating that mail-in-ballots postmarked by Election Day but received within a grace period can be counted. “Today’s ruling is a victory for democracy,” said Senator Markey. “For now, eligible voters can continue to cast their ballots by mail with confidence that their vote will be counted. Although Trump and MAGA Republicans lost today, this will not be the end of their campaign to undercut Americans’ ability to freely and fairly participate in our electoral system. I will remain vigilant against this threat and continue to work to secure our elections.” In February, Senator Markey tried to pass a resolution denouncing statements by President Donald Trump that he may “nationalize,” commandeer, or otherwise assume direct control over state-run elections. Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) objected, blocking the resolution from passing. ### 1 2026-06-30T06:29:10Z 2026-06-30T06:30:42Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-markey-rep-summer-lee-demand-answers-from-major-corporations-on-use-of-stay-or-pay-contracts-and-worker-debt-schemes Sen. Markey, Rep. Summer Lee Demand Answers from Major Corporations on Use of “Stay-or-Pay” Contracts and Worker Debt Schemes 2026-06-26 2026 2026-06 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Text of Letters (PDF) Washington (June 26, 2026) — Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Congresswoman Summer Lee (PA-12) sent letters to University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Frontier Airlines, Smoothstack, HCA Healthcare, and CRST seeking information about the companies’ use of coercive “stay-or-pay” contracts, including Training Repayment Agreement Provisions (TRAPs), which can burden workers with substantial debt for leaving their jobs. These companies have faced multiple lawsuits challenging restrictive contract terms. The letters build on Sen. Markey and Rep. Lee’s previous oversight effort examining the federal government's response to the growing use of TRAPs and other forms of employer-driven debt, including actively repealing rules that would have banned TRAPs. After pressing federal agencies for answers about their role in protecting workers from these practices, the lawmakers are now seeking transparency directly from companies reported to have used such agreements. “Big corporations always find a way to squeeze the little guy,” said Senator Markey. “Workers should have the right to leave a job if it’s unsafe, if they’re being harassed, or if they need time to take care of themselves or their family. That choice should fall with the individual – not the corporation dictating their every move. While these companies have some of the most egregious examples of TRAPs, many more companies take advantage of workers by holding them in debt if they leave. That is wrong. It’s high time we put workers over greedy CEOs raking in profit.” “Workers deserve the freedom to change jobs, seek higher wages, and leave unsafe or exploitative workplaces without being threatened with crushing debt,” said Rep. Lee. “These stay-or-pay contracts can leave workers feeling trapped, even if employers never attempt to collect. We will continue to seek accountability for coercive practices and this anti-worker administration that puts pocketbooks over people.” A growing number of employers use TRAPs to lock workers into j… 1 2026-06-27T06:16:17Z 2026-06-27T06:17:30Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-markey-statement-on-fcc-vote-to-review-e-rate-program-threatening-internet-access-for-millions-of-students-teachers-schools-libraries Sen. Markey Statement on FCC Vote to Review E-Rate Program, Threatening Internet Access for Millions of Students, Teachers, Schools, Libraries 2026-06-25 2026 2026-06 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Washington (June 25, 2026) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and House author of the original E-Rate program, released the following statement after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted today to open a review of the E-Rate program, threatening a program which has helped millions of students, teachers, schools, and libraries across the country connect to the internet. “Today’s FCC vote is a deeply troubling step toward weakening E-Rate, a universal program that has connected millions of students, teachers, schools, and libraries — in urban and rural communities alike — to the internet for 30 years,” said Senator Markey. “This rulemaking goes far beyond reviewing the impact of screen time on students and undermines educational equality, harms our economic competitiveness, and threatens to reverse three decades of settled law. The FCC should be focused on strengthening E-Rate and closing the digital divide, not finding new excuses to disconnect the children who need it the most. I will continue fighting to protect this landmark program and ensure every student can succeed.” In April, the FCC approved a new rule creating additional administrative burdens for schools and libraries to access funds from the E-Rate program. In September 2025, the FCC repealed its rule allowing schools and libraries to use their E-Rate funds to loan Wi-Fi hotspots to students and educators, setting back years of success in ensuring students and educators have access to the internet at home. The E-Rate program has invested more than $69 billion to connect schools and libraries to the internet across the country. Massachusetts schools and libraries have received more than $950 million from the E-Rate program and another $97 million from the Emergency Connectivity Fund, a $7 billion program that Senator Markey created within the American Rescue Plan to provide devices and connectivity for students and educators at home. ### 1 2026-06-26T06:29:35Z 2026-06-26T06:31:46Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-condemns-us-supreme-courts-ruling-effectively-ending-temporary-protected-status-tps-for-haiti-and-other-countries Senator Markey Condemns U.S. Supreme Court’s Ruling Effectively Ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti and Other Countries 2026-06-25 2026 2026-06 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Watch: Senator Markey press conference today outside Supreme Court Senator Markey alongside Whip Clark, Reps. Pressley, Wasserman Schultz Washington (June 25, 2026) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump administration’s termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti and Syria in the consolidated case, Mullin v. Doe. The Court’s decision also impacts TPS holders from about a dozen other countries. Previously, Senator Markey introduced legislation to extend Haiti’s TPS designation, and he supports legislation to give TPS holders a pathway to legal residency. In April, he led 26 Senators and 157 Representatives in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in Mullin v. Doe with Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25). Today, Senator Markey, alongside Representatives Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Katherine Clark (MA-05), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) held a press conference outside the Court denouncing the decision. “The lives of over a million TPS holders who cannot return home safely are now at grave risk due to the Supreme Court’s ruling on Trump’s unlawful, racist termination of the Temporary Protected Status program,” said Senator Markey. “The far-right extremist majority on the Court has severed a critical lifeline for people seeking safety and has worsened a humanitarian crisis. We have a moral duty to protect TPS holders and to provide this vulnerable group a permanent pathway to citizenship. We must continue the fight to protect our neighbors.” Senator Markey has worked consistently to protect TPS for Haiti and support the Haitian community in Massachusetts amid the Trump administration’s attacks on TPS and Haitians. In September 2025, Senator Markey led an amicus brief in Miot v. Trump, the companion case to Mullin v. Doe, when the case was before the U.S. District Court for the Dist… 1 2026-06-26T06:29:35Z 2026-06-26T06:31:46Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-statement-on-supreme-court-ruling-shielding-monsanto-from-liability-for-failure-to-warn-consumers-of-cancer-risks Senator Markey Statement on Supreme Court Ruling Shielding Monsanto from Liability for Failure to Warn Consumers of Cancer Risks 2026-06-25 2026 2026-06 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Washington (June 25, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Monsanto Company v. Durnell, which shields Monsanto, which is owned by Bayer, from state-law liability for failing to warn consumers of cancer risks associated with Roundup, a weedkiller sold by the company that contains glyphosate. The Court held that states cannot require pesticide manufacturers to disclose information on pesticide labels beyond what is mandated by federal law. “In siding with Monsanto and Bayer, the Supreme Court has made clear that it prioritizes corporate immunity over the health of the American people—just like the Trump administration. Companies should be held liable if they fail to warn Americans about carcinogens in their products, and Americans deserve to seek recourse when they are unknowingly exposed to life-threatening risks,” said Senator Markey. “States should also have the right to require more transparency from companies selling products to their residents. The Supreme Court, with the Trump administration’s poisonous thumb on the scale, is again failing the public and sacrificing our health in the process.” For over a decade, scientific authorities have recognized glyphosate’s potential toxicity to users. In 2015, the World Health Organization classified glyphosate, a primary ingredient in Roundup, as a Group 2A carcinogen. Further studies suggest that prolonged and high-volume exposure, common for agricultural workers and other pesticide applicators, leads to an elevated risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Despite this evidence, the Trump administration has refused to protect the public from this health risk and has even defended the toxic chemical’s significance to economic and national security to boost domestic production of the carcinogen. In March, President Trump’s Department of Justice filed an amicus brief in support of Bayer’s immunity against citizen suits. The Administration’s actions followed multiple meetings involving Bayer’s CEO B… 1 2026-06-26T06:29:35Z 2026-06-26T06:31:46Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-markey-paul-reintroduce-legislation-to-modernize-rules-for-treating-opioid-use-disorder Sens. Markey, Paul Reintroduce Legislation to Modernize Rules for Treating Opioid Use Disorder 2026-06-25 2026 2026-06 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Bill Text (PDF) Washington (June 25, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, and Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) today announced the reintroduction of the bipartisan Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act 2.0. The legislation would improve patients’ access to treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) by empowering board-certified physicians to prescribe, and pharmacies to dispense, methadone for OUD. Despite recent declines in drug overdose deaths, more than 44,100 people died of an opioid overdose last year, representing more than 120 preventable deaths each day. Almost five million people in the United States have an OUD, though less than 20 percent receive treatment. Medications like methadone and buprenorphine are considered the gold standard in treating OUD. Methadone, which has been prescribed for OUD for more than 50 years, helps people maintain recovery by suppressing withdrawal symptoms and controlling cravings. While physicians can prescribe, and pharmacies can dispense, methadone for pain, methadone for OUD is only available at opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Patients usually have to travel to an OTP every day, or almost every day, especially early in their treatment. OTPs can be difficult to access, particularly in rural areas and for individuals with limited access to transportation. On average, patients would need to drive 4.5 times farther to get to an OTP compared to a pharmacy. Canada, the UK, and Australia allow for methadone prescribing outside of specialty treatment settings and for pharmacies to dispense methadone. “For too long, we have kept methadone – an evidence-based, life-saving medication – locked away, far from many of the people who need it,” said Senator Markey. “The Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act 2.0 would take a carefully considered step forward in expanding access to this medication by allowing the most highly trained addiction physicians in the … 1 2026-06-26T06:29:35Z 2026-06-26T06:31:46Z
https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warren-calls-on-congress-and-antitrust-enforcers-to-take-on-corporate-power-at-open-markets-conference Warren Calls on Congress and Antitrust Enforcers to Take on Corporate Power at Open Markets Conference 2026-06-24 2026 2026-06 Democrat Senate MA Elizabeth Warren W000817 www.warren.senate.gov warren https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases scraper Warren Calls on Congress and Antitrust Enforcers to Take on Corporate Power at Open Markets Conference Warren calls out both Democrats and Republicans for nominating judges that don’t follow antitrust laws Warren pushes antitrust tools to tackle new challenges, including AI Video of Remarks (YouTube) Washington, D.C. — At the Open Markets Institute’s 2026 conference on “The New American Revolution,” U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) spoke on the growing momentum for antitrust enforcement, ten years after her first speech at OMI. “10 years ago, I warned that competition in America was dying. Today, meaningful competition barely registers a heartbeat,” said Senator Warren. But Senator Warren pointed out that in the last few years, Jonathan Kanter at the Department of Justice and Lina Khan at the Federal Trade Commission brought “hope and a counter-attack against monopolies.” “Those two were making the billionaire class and Wall Street deal makers nervous. It’s no wonder giant corporations donated handily to Trump’s 2024 campaign. And as soon as Trump took office, corporations came knocking at the White House door to get their pro-monopoly deals approved,” said Senator Warren. She highlighted how companies like Paramount-Skydance donated millions of dollars to Trump’s ballroom and his presidential library in what appear to be pay-to-play schemes in exchange for favorable treatment like merger approvals. Senator Warren also argued that in addition to rising prices, corporate consolidation adds a dark layer of control to our economy. “With a handful of CEOs in charge, a handful of people dictate what you watch on TV, which doctor you’re allowed to see, what you eat, what predators get online access to your kids, what apartment you can rent, and, as AI sweeps in, maybe what your future job looks like,” Senator Warren continued. “It looks like we’re careening towards oligarchy. But I’m smiling because the antitrust cat is out of the bag…Khan and Kantor reminded America about the power of antitrust laws … 1 2026-06-25T06:30:03Z 2026-06-25T06:31:21Z
https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warren-hirono-schumer-colleagues-blast-trump-rfk-jr-for-steering-pregnant-women-to-misleading-anti-abortion-website Warren, Hirono, Schumer, Colleagues Blast Trump, RFK Jr. For Steering Pregnant Women to Misleading Anti-Abortion Website 2026-06-24 2026 2026-06 Democrat Senate MA Elizabeth Warren W000817 www.warren.senate.gov warren https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases scraper Warren, Hirono, Schumer, Colleagues Blast Trump, RFK Jr. For Steering Pregnant Women to Misleading Anti-Abortion Website The government website directs women to Option Line, a finder tool for unregulated, often nonmedical anti-abortion facilities that has exposed the sensitive data of pregnant women. “Moms.gov is not about promoting women’s health—it is an attempt to use HHS resources to further strip women of their rights and privacy.” Text of Letter (PDF) Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), along with Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), pressed President Donald Trump and Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the Trump Administration’s new website, Moms.gov, which directs pregnant women and their loved ones to unregulated and often nonmedical anti-abortion facilities known as crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs). “This raises profound concerns about the health, safety, and privacy of people who access this government website at a time when women’s health and reproductive rights face increasing attacks,” wrote the senators. On Mother’s Day, the Trump Administration launched Moms.gov as “a groundbreaking website for new and expecting mothers,” purporting to “offer[] guidance and information to support the health and well-being of mothers and their families.” Rather than connect people with licensed health care providers and evidence-based resources, a button reading “Find Pregnancy Centers Near You” steers them to an external site called Option Line, a CPC finder tool that collects data on pregnant women. CPCs receive at least tens of millions of dollars in federal funding and, though advertised as legitimate care providers, do not provide comprehensive reproductive care and are not bound by federal privacy protections, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which protects “sensitive health information from disclosure without patient's consent.” CPCs have been known to cause dangerous delays in medically nece… 1 2026-06-25T06:30:03Z 2026-06-25T06:31:21Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/as-gas-prices-remain-high-from-trumps-war-in-iran-senator-markey-introduces-legislation-to-protect-americans-from-high-costs-at-the-pump As Gas Prices Remain High from Trump’s War in Iran, Senator Markey Introduces Legislation to Protect Americans from High Costs at the Pump 2026-06-24 2026 2026-06 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Bill Text (PDF) Washington (June 24, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and Environmental and Public Works Committee, today introduced the Gas Money Saved Act, legislation that would require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to examine whether it can strengthen Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards during periods of skyrocketing gas prices. The legislation would also reinstate the penalties for automakers that fail to produce fuel-efficient vehicles as options for American drivers, which were removed as part of the giveaways to corporations and the super-rich in the Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill in 2025. This legislation comes as average gas prices are still nearly $4 per gallon, after peaking at $4.50 per gallon due to Trump’s illegal war in Iran. In May 2026, gas prices rose at a rate ten times higher than the rate of inflation. Even as Trump and Iran tout a memorandum of understanding to end the war, gas prices are projected to remain high and the Strait of Hormuz—a key point in the global oil supply chain—remains in conflict, harming American families who are already suffering from rising costs throughout the economy. “Fuel economy standards help American drivers get around without breaking the bank while gas prices are high, but Trump and the Republicans gutted these standards as part of their crusade to put Big Oil above American families,” said Senator Markey. “Auto innovation should give consumers better choices, not cut corners at their expense. The Gas Money Saved Act would make sure American drivers have fuel-efficient vehicle options that are cheaper to fill up and hold automakers to account—a cost-saving measure that is especially critical as the Trump Administration would rather spend billions on an illegal war than keep costs low for Americans.” “The Gas Money Saved Act provides a bold response to sky-high gasoline prices: no more flouting the nation’s fuel economy laws,” said Daniel Greene, Senior Director of Con… 1 2026-06-26T06:29:35Z 2026-06-26T06:31:46Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-introduces-pupil-act-to-highlight-needs-and-contributions-of-paraprofessionals-in-education Senator Markey Introduces PUPIL Act to Highlight Needs and Contributions of Paraprofessionals in Education 2026-06-23 2026 2026-06 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Bill Text (PDF) Washington (June 23, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), top Democrat on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, today introduced the Providing Understanding of Paraprofessionals in Learning (PUPIL) Act, legislation to commission a study on paraprofessionals to provide educators, lawmakers, and advocates with the data necessary to understand these critical workers. The legislation is cosponsored by Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.). “Families rely on paraprofessionals to support students in the classroom, transport them to school, and provide them with healthy meals. They are essential parts of the school community. Yet, paraprofessionals remain an under-studied workforce, with limited opportunities for career growth,” said Senator Markey. “My PUPIL Act will bring long overdue attention to the needs of paraprofessionals and equip paraprofessionals, school leaders, advocates, and legislators to craft policies that support these workers.” “Paraprofessionals and support staff are the backbone of our public schools, and it is unconscionable that they lack the resources they need to do their jobs,” said Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers. “We are grateful that Sen. Ed Markey has made their lives a priority with the PUPIL Act, which will study the working conditions of school support staff and finally give us the real data we need to improve conditions for millions of workers across the country.” Senator Markey’s legislation directs the Department of Education to commission a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) study that would: Examine the demographics, roles, compensation, retention, and existing career pathways for paraprofessionals serving students in prekindergarten through 12th grade Establish classifications for different paraprofessionals positions and compile data on starting and mean salaries for each classification Analyze para… 1 2026-06-24T06:25:30Z 2026-06-24T06:26:49Z
https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warren-kelly-press-trump-officials-to-explain-damage-to-us-manufacturing-sector Warren, Kelly Press Trump Officials to Explain Damage to U.S. Manufacturing Sector 2026-06-23 2026 2026-06 Democrat Senate MA Elizabeth Warren W000817 www.warren.senate.gov warren https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases scraper Warren, Kelly Press Trump Officials to Explain Damage to U.S. Manufacturing Sector Trump admin has repeatedly — and falsely — claimed that manufacturing is “roaring back” and that investments are up Trump’s tariffs have led to tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs disappearing Text of Letter (PDF) Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) wrote to Secretary of Commerce (Commerce) Howard Lutnick, Secretary of the Treasury (Treasury) Scott Bessent, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, asking them to explain the disappearance of tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs under the Trump administration, despite President Trump’s promise of a “manufacturing boom.” “President Trump promised us that his chaotic, across-the-board tariffs—paid for by Americans—would yield a ‘manufacturing boom’...But no ‘boom’ has materialized—in fact, during President Trump’s term, the ‘blue-collar jobs boom’ has been a blue-collar bust,” wrote the senators. President Trump repeatedly claimed foreign companies would “eat” his tariffs and that corporate importers would simply absorb the costs. Instead, those costs were passed on to consumers, driving up prices for American families and small businesses. In fact, President Trump’s trade policies have cost families an average of $1,700, and estimates indicate that American households will end up paying for 95 percent of the President’s tariffs. “[T]ariffs are an important economic tool to level the playing field for U.S. workers and reshore key industries, but they must be employed with careful consideration, as part of a broader industrial strategy,” wrote the senators. Since President Trump’s announcement of sweeping tariffs on nearly all trading partners in April 2025, nearly 100,000 manufacturing jobs have disappeared. Additionally, spending on construction in the manufacturing sector has declined steadily in each month since he took office. President Trump’s war in Iran has led to further construction delays through rising fuel … 1 2026-06-24T06:25:30Z 2026-06-24T06:26:49Z
https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warren-moreno-pen-nyt-op-ed-our-bipartisan-plan-to-save-social-security Warren, Moreno Pen NYT Op-ed: Our Bipartisan Plan to Save Social Security 2026-06-23 2026 2026-06 Democrat Senate MA Elizabeth Warren W000817 www.warren.senate.gov warren https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases scraper Warren, Moreno Pen NYT Op-ed: Our Bipartisan Plan to Save Social Security Warren and Moreno: “[T]he two of us are working together on legislation to remove the cap on Social Security taxes and extend the solvency of our retirement system.” Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) published a joint op-ed in the New York Times calling on Congress to act to save Social Security for generations of Americans to come. In particular, the senators call for lifting the Social Security payroll tax cap, given that the current tax cap creates a system where most Americans pay Social Security taxes on 100% of their earnings, while the highest earners are paying on only part of theirs. The pair of senators announced that they are currently working on legislation to address this problem, which would also extend the solvency of Social Security. In April 2025, Senator Warren launched the Social Security War Room to protect Social Security. Read the full op-ed here and below. New York Times Opinion Bernie Moreno and Elizabeth Warren: Our Plan to Save Social Security June 23rd, 2026 One of us is a Republican from Ohio who built a business that generated hundreds of jobs. The other is a Democrat from Massachusetts who built a career protecting consumers from financial tricks and traps. We don’t agree on everything, but here’s one thing we do agree on: Congress must act now to save Social Security for generations of Americans to come. Social Security is a core component of our nation’s promise — a covenant between the federal government and Americans who pay into it throughout their working years so they can retire with dignity. That promise is at risk of unraveling. For years, older people in Ohio and Massachusetts have told us how concerned they are about the future of Social Security. A new report from the trustees who oversee the Social Security Trust Funds shows they are right to worry: Unless Congress acts, the fund from which most Social Security beneficiaries are paid … 1 2026-06-24T06:25:30Z 2026-06-24T06:26:49Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-sanders-blumenthal-murray-urge-department-of-labor-to-reverse-rule-that-would-weaken-worker-protections-against-big-businesses Markey, Sanders, Blumenthal, Murray Urge Department of Labor to Reverse Rule That Would Weaken Worker Protections Against Big Businesses 2026-06-22 2026 2026-06 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Letter Text (PDF) Washington (June 22, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), top Democrat on the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee and on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, along with HELP Ranking Member Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Patty Murray (D-Wash.), today wrote to Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling, calling on the Department of Labor (DOL) to withdraw its dangerous proposed rule on Joint Employer Status Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act. The proposed Rule would water down DOL enforcement investigations of big businesses, weakening worker protections and harming small businesses. Joint employment status is when a worker has two employers (for example, a fast-food worker employed by that franchisee and the corporate franchisor). In today’s economy, companies increasingly contract and subcontract out labor to a complex web of employment structures. These larger companies will often dictate significant aspects of a smaller employer’s operations and employee conditions, yet at the same time, these large companies often seek to shirk responsibility and liability for any violations of workers’ rights by claiming they are not the employers of these workers. The proposed rule would make it harder for DOL to classify larger employers as joint employers and thus reduce DOL’s ability to hold large employers accountable for wage theft, child labor violations, FMLA violations, and other worker protections. In the letter, the lawmakers wrote, “Contrary to DOL’s purported motivations for the proposed rule, it would harm small business owners and franchisees, leaving them solely liable even when a larger employer exerts — or retains the right to exert — significant influence over their operation, such as dictating employee behavior, expectations, functions, and price of goods. I… 1 2026-06-23T06:27:52Z 2026-06-23T06:29:20Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-markey-warren-rep-mcgovern-celebrate-successful-efforts-to-save-shutesbury-and-medway-post-offices-urge-usps-to-halt-closures-at-other-post-offices Senators Markey, Warren, Rep. McGovern Celebrate Successful Efforts to Save Shutesbury and Medway Post Offices, Urge USPS to Halt Closures at Other Post Offices 2026-06-22 2026 2026-06 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Shutesbury Post Office Letter (PDF) | Allston Post Office Letter (PDF) | Springfield Pine Point Letter (PDF) Washington (June 22, 2026) - Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), along with Representative Jim McGovern (MA-02) celebrated news that the United States Postal Service (USPS) reversed course on closing the post office in the Town of Shutesbury and committed to opening a new location in the Town of Medway. This follows months-long advocacy from Senators Markey and Warren, Rep. McGovern, the federal delegation, the American Postal Workers Union (APWU), and the Shutesbury community—including a letter from the delegation—as well as a years-long campaign in Medway. The Shutesbury community will benefit from uninterrupted postal service, and the Medway community will soon see adequate postal service restored. Postal problems persist in other Massachusetts communities. In Allston, USPS has reportedly reversed its intent to reopen a post office closed in 2019, and in Springfield, USPS continues to negotiate with the owner of a Contract Postal Unit in Pine Point after previously announcing it would permanently close the site. These developments led Senator Markey to write to Postmaster General David Steiner, Senior Vice President of Facilities Benjamin Kuo, and Massachusetts-Rhode Island District Manager Carissa Shea, demanding answers and an adequate postal presence in both Allston and Springfield. This effort builds on prior letters Senator Markey has sent advocating for post office locations and adequate service across Massachusetts, including in Watertown, Brookline, and Somerville. “At a press conference in 2024, I said that Massachusetts was facing a postal crisis: post offices were closing, mail wasn’t arriving, and service was being degraded for residents across the Commonwealth,” said Senator Markey. “This news in Shutesbury and Medway is a reminder that, when we organize together, we can make progress and we can win. But this crisis is far from over. Allston, Springfield, … 1 2026-06-23T06:27:52Z 2026-06-23T06:29:20Z
https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/new-warren-report-exposes-how-trump-has-turned-his-back-on-american-workers New Warren Report Exposes How Trump Has Turned His Back on American Workers 2026-06-22 2026 2026-06 Democrat Senate MA Elizabeth Warren W000817 www.warren.senate.gov warren https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases scraper New Warren Report Exposes How Trump Has Turned His Back on American Workers Text of Report (PDF) Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) released a new report titled “10 Ways President Trump Has Hurt American Workers,” detailing how President Trump has broken his promises to workers. “Donald Trump promised American workers he’d have their backs, then turned on them once he took office,” said Senator Warren. “He’s made it harder for workers to get a job and join a union, and easier for giant corporations to deny benefits and endanger workers. Working people power the American economy — they deserve better.” Senator Warren’s report lays out how, instead of supporting workers, President Trump has actually made life worse for them, including by: Making it harder for workers to get a job; Thanks to Trump’s illegal war, chaotic trade policy, and cruel immigration policies, the labor market is effectively “frozen.” Being the biggest union-buster in American history; Trump has stripped collective bargaining rights from over 1 million federal workers in “the largest act of union busting in American history.” Standing in the way of workers forming new unions; Under Trump, the National Labor Relations Board has largely backed down from enforcing labor protections, leaving corporations free to illegally crack down on unions. After facing anti-union headwinds under Trump, the number of union elections has fallen by nearly 30%, and the number of union wins fell by almost 27%. Allowing employers to misclassify workers, leaving them without legal protections and benefits; Trump’s Labor Department has made it easier for employers to misclassify workers as independent contractors, to avoid giving them protections and benefits like minimum wage, unemployment benefits, Social Security contributions, health insurance, and sick leave. Cutting overtime pay for millions of workers; Trump’s Labor Department is making 4.3 million workers ineligible for overtime—taking $1.5 billion out of workers’ pockets a… 1 2026-06-23T06:27:52Z 2026-06-23T06:29:20Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/as-author-of-juneteenth-national-independence-act-senator-markey-celebrates-fifth-anniversary-of-juneteenth-federal-holiday As Author of Juneteenth National Independence Act, Senator Markey Celebrates Fifth Anniversary of Juneteenth Federal Holiday 2026-06-19 2026 2026-06 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Boston (June 19, 2026) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Senate author of the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act of 2021, released the following statement today to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Juneteenth’s commemoration as a federal holiday and to recommit to fighting for liberty and justice for all. “Today, we reflect not only on what happened in our nation’s past, but what we must recommit ourselves to in the future. We are a nation forged by our fights for civil rights, for human rights, and for equal rights for all. But these fights have not always come easy, and they have not always come quickly. “We owe the fights for justice and equality to those who have organized, marched, spoken out, and refused to back down. We honor the hard-won battles and the difficult roads that still lie ahead. “Our democracy is strongest when we speak the truth honestly and take action on behalf of justice. We win when we stand united, together. “On Juneteenth, we celebrate Black joy, Black resilience, and Black excellence. And we celebrate the promise of freedom and the power of our shared humanity. That is the future we must build where liberty and justice are a reality for all.” ### 1 2026-06-20T06:35:38Z 2026-06-20T06:37:01Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-statement-on-trumps-iran-mou Senator Markey Statement on Trump’s Iran MoU 2026-06-19 2026 2026-06 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Boston (June 19, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement on Trump’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Iran. “The United States had a nuclear deal with Iran in 2015, and it was working. President Trump abandoned it in 2018 for no good reason. Only then did Iran start to build up its stocks of highly enriched uranium, which Trump used as an excuse to take the nation to war. That war was a disaster, built on lies and costing lives and treasure and leading Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz. Oil and gas prices skyrocketed. “Now, Trump has replaced the 2018 Iran deal with a Memorandum of Understanding that caves to Iran’s demands. Trump’s MoU is not a deal, it’s a $300 billion bribe. Trump has agreed to a mafia protection racket. ‘Nice oil tanker there, would be a shame if anything happened to it!’ “Trump’s MoU is a payoff for Iran with no new limits on its nuclear program. Trump is not a deal maker—he is a deal breaker. This war was completely Trump’s fault and was completely avoidable. “More than anything, Trump’s embarrassing MoU shows what a huge blunder the war was. We are worse off than when Trump started the war, the worst foreign policy disaster in decades. “The best we can do now is end this war as soon as possible by approving Trump’s pitiful MoU. Trump’s reckless, expensive, and unnecessary war leaves us no choice.” ### 1 2026-06-20T06:35:38Z 2026-06-20T06:37:01Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-markey-schatz-introduce-legislation-to-halt-automating-workplace-decisions-worker-surveillance Senators Markey, Schatz, Introduce Legislation to Halt Automating Workplace Decisions, Worker Surveillance 2026-06-18 2026 2026-06 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Senators Markey and Schatz Introduce No Robot Bosses Act (PDF) Senators Markey, Schatz, and Booker Introduce Stop Spying Bosses Act (PDF) Washington (June 18, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), top Democrat on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, along with Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), today introduced the No Robot Bosses Act to put safeguards on the use of automated decision systems, which can include AI, to make work related decisions. Additionally, Senator Markey, along with Senator Schatz and Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), today introduced the Stop Spying Bosses Act to address the growing use of surveillance technology in the workplace. Representative Chris Deluzio (PA-11) is introducing companion legislation to the Stop Spying Bosses Act in the House of Representatives. Representative Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) introduced companion legislation to the No Robot Bosses Act. Automated decision systems are increasingly shaping core employment decisions, influencing hiring, firing, scheduling, and discipline. Employers are reportedly using “bossware,” automated decision systems and AI to evaluate workers, set targets, and even terminate employment—often with little transparency or accountability. These systems also collect extensive data on employees’ behaviors, productivity, and movements that can jeopardize workers’ autonomy, privacy, and rights. These bills draw a clear line: no more automating key employment decisions and no more invasive employee data collection. “When we talk about technical innovation, we must put workers first,” said Senator Markey. “Currently, some employers abuse their authority to collect troves of data, spy on workers’ every move, and hand critical employment decisions to an automated system. AI has only made this tech-fueled power imbalance worse. No worker should be fired or disciplined by a machine. No employer should be able to watch their workers in break rooms or collect data to predict potential union ac… 1 2026-06-19T06:50:32Z 2026-06-19T06:53:40Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/as-trump-requests-15-trillion-for-pentagon-sens-markey-and-merkley-press-for-details-on-golden-dome-12-trillion-price-tag-mission As Trump Requests $1.5 Trillion for Pentagon, Sens. Markey and Merkley Press for Details on “Golden Dome” $1.2 Trillion Price Tag, Mission 2026-06-17 2026 2026-06 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Letter Text (PDF) Washington (June 17, 2026) - As Congress considers President Trump’s $1.5 trillion request for Pentagon spending and SpaceX wins billions in Golden Dome contracts, Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Representatives John Garamendi (CA-08) and Don Beyer (VA-08), co-chairs of the bicameral Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group, today led their colleagues in a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, demanding further information on the Trump administration’s proposed Golden Dome missile interceptor system. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently estimated that Golden Dome could cost American taxpayers $1.2 trillion and deliver much less capability than advertised. Trump’s Department of Defense (DOD) rejected the accuracy of CBO’s estimate but has refused to share key information about Golden Dome with CBO, Congress, or the American people. In the letter, the lawmakers wrote, “This is unacceptable. Before you spend one more taxpayer dollar on Golden Dome, DOD must share its plans and goals for the system. There is no reasonable justification for keeping the mission and number of interceptors for Golden Dome secret. It is one thing to withhold design details or performance specifications of certain systems, but it is quite another to withhold the entire system architecture that you expect Congress to approve and fund. Congress and the American public have a right to know what they are paying for.” The lawmakers continued, “Transparency is particularly important when it appears, as it does here, that the system’s ultimate capability will fall far short of the original promises. On May 20, 2025, President Trump said that, with Golden Dome, ‘we will truly be completing the job that President Reagan started 40 years ago, forever ending the missile threat to the American homeland.’ According to CBO’s calculations, even a system that would cost $3 trillion would not meet that ambitious goal, which would need to be able to engage hundreds of … 1 2026-06-18T06:41:00Z 2026-06-18T06:43:25Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-markey-and-blunt-rochester-leader-schumer-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-designate-haiti-for-temporary-protected-status-amid-trump-administration-attacks Senators Markey and Blunt Rochester, Leader Schumer, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Designate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status Amid Trump Administration Attacks 2026-06-17 2026 2026-06 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Bill Text (PDF) Washington (June 17, 2026) - Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and 16 other Senate colleagues, today introduced legislation to designate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which allows nationals from designated countries facing life-threatening conditions to temporarily live and work legally in the United States. The Senators’ legislation preserves TPS protections for more than 300,000 Haitian nationals, offering a critical lifeline as Haiti continues to confront political instability, widespread violence, and a serious humanitarian emergency. While a federal district court temporarily paused the termination of Haiti TPS, the Trump administration appealed, and a decision is now pending before the Supreme Court. “The Trump administration’s cruel, callous, and calculated attempts to terminate TPS for Haitian nationals puts thousands of our neighbors in immediate danger,” said Senator Markey. “Haiti is facing life-threatening conditions that have displaced nearly 1.5 million people. This legislation to safeguard Haiti TPS reflects both a moral duty and a recognition of the immense contributions of Haitian TPS holders to our communities. I’m grateful to Senator Blunt Rochester and my partners in Congress for standing together in the fight to protect Haitian TPS holders.” “The extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the Haitian community was rooted in an undeniable humanitarian crisis that required acknowledgment and increased protection. The Trump administration’s decision to terminate this TPS designation not only threatens the safety and stability of our Haitian neighbors, but the economic strength of communities across the country,” said Senator Blunt Rochester. “I’m proud to co-lead this legislation with Senator Markey to ensure the Haitian community is treated with the dignity and protections they deserve.” “The cruel and improper steps taken by the Trump administration to termin… 1 2026-06-18T06:41:00Z 2026-06-18T06:43:25Z
https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warren-schumer-murray-announce-senate-democrats-vision-for-affordable-available-high-quality-child-care Warren, Schumer, Murray Announce Senate Democrats’ Vision For Affordable, Available, High-Quality Child Care 2026-06-17 2026 2026-06 Democrat Senate MA Elizabeth Warren W000817 www.warren.senate.gov warren https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases scraper Warren, Schumer, Murray Announce Senate Democrats’ Vision For Affordable, Available, High-Quality Child Care Democrats’ new report exposes how Trump and Republicans have driven up costs and broken promises to American families “While Donald Trump and Republicans dream up new ways to line their billionaire buddies’ pockets and give giant corporations even bigger tax breaks, Democrats are united in the fight to lower families’ costs and deliver universal child care.” Warren Remarks (Youtube) | Child Care Affordability Agenda (PDF) Washington, D.C. - Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) in announcing the next pillar of Senate Democrats’ affordability agenda: a new Senate Democratic vision to make child care more affordable, more available, and higher quality for families across the country. Democrats’ policy framework stands in stark contrast to Republicans’ policies, which have led to skyrocketing costs and exacerbated the child care crisis. “Universal child care is the best investment we can make in bolstering the middle class,” said Senator Warren. While Donald Trump and Republicans dream up new ways to line their billionaire buddies’ pockets and give giant corporations even bigger tax breaks, Democrats are united in the fight to lower families’ costs and deliver universal child care. Together, we’ll get it done.” “Trump and Republicans have made finding reliable and affordable child care an impossible feat," said Leader Schumer. “They have waged an all-out war on the child care sector, hurting those who are the most vulnerable among us: children. Senate Democrats are focused on a Day One solution to the child care crisis that includes affordable child care that meets parents’ needs while investing in the infrastructure, workforce, and early childhood programs. As Republicans continue to fund tax cuts for their billionaire buddies, Democrats are laser-focused on the issues that Americans actually care about — affordabili… 1 2026-06-18T06:41:00Z 2026-06-18T06:43:25Z
https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warren-senators-press-major-credit-reporting-companies-on-plans-to-address-credit-errors-for-student-loan-borrowers Warren, Senators Press Major Credit Reporting Companies on Plans to Address Credit Errors for Student Loan Borrowers 2026-06-17 2026 2026-06 Democrat Senate MA Elizabeth Warren W000817 www.warren.senate.gov warren https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases scraper Warren, Senators Press Major Credit Reporting Companies on Plans to Address Credit Errors for Student Loan Borrowers Text of Letter (PDF) Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) led Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) in questioning Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax on the companies’ plans to prevent student loan credit reporting errors from harming borrowers amid the Trump administration’s illegal attempts to shut down the Department of Education (ED). “Given that federal student loan servicers have systematically reported inaccurate data to credit reporting companies in the past, and that the dismantling of the Department of Education has vastly reduced federal oversight over servicers, we are concerned that servicers may be failing to report fully accurate data to your companies,” wrote the lawmakers. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires credit reporting companies to take steps to ensure that inaccurate data, like misreported defaults or delinquencies, do not appear on credit reports or affect a borrower’s credit score. However, due in part to credit reporting companies’ patterns of negligence, at least one in five credit reports contain errors. Borrowers with incorrectly low credit scores may be denied access to mortgages, rental opportunities, credit cards, auto loans, or even employment opportunities. In 2024, a Congressional investigation revealed that credit bureaus had generated incorrect credit scores for hundreds of thousands of borrowers after processing inaccurate data from student loan servicers. Similarly, in 2020, servicers reported incorrect repayment statuses for tens of thousands of borrowers to credit bureaus. The lawmakers warned that because of the Trump administration’s cuts to ED staff responsible for overseeing student loan servicers, “the risk that servicers may again supply credit reporting companies with inaccurate data appears … 1 2026-06-18T06:41:00Z 2026-06-18T06:43:25Z
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-introduces-legislation-to-slash-wasteful-defense-spending Senator Markey Introduces Legislation to Slash Wasteful Defense Spending 2026-06-16 2026 2026-06 Democrat Senate MA Edward J. Markey M000133 www.markey.senate.gov markey https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Bill Text (PDF) Washington (June 16, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today held a press conference to call for major cuts to the Pentagon’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2027, in light of Donald Trump’s illegal war in Iran and as Trump pushes to increase an already outrageously bloated defense budget to $1.5 trillion – the highest since World War II. Senator Markey also today introduced the Slash the Pentagon Act, legislation to cut the budget of the Department of Defense and cap it at $750 billion – half of Trump’s bloated budget request. Senator Markey is introducing the legislation as Americans struggle to pay for healthcare, rent, electricity, groceries, and gas, while Trump has spent over $100 billion on his expensive, dangerous, and unnecessary war with Iran. “Instead of funding Medicaid and education or investing in veterans’ care, Republicans want to pad the pockets of gold-plated defense contractors with billions more dollars for weapons and wars we do not need,” said Senator Markey. “Just before SpaceX’s IPO made Elon Musk a trillionaire, Trump gave SpaceX billions in contracts for his expensive and ineffective ‘Golden Dome’ system. Coincidence? No, corruption. It’s time to put people before the Pentagon and make major cuts to Trump’s bloated and wasteful defense spending. We should invest in our hospitals, schools, affordable housing, and the real security American families need right now – not expensive wars and weapons that make us less safe.” During the press conference, Senator Markey, joined by advocates, highlighted the better ways to use a $750 billion cut from Trump’s $1.5 trillion military budget: Trains, not warplanes: Build high-speed rail across the nation, expand existing passenger rail service, and electrify the most heavily polluting railyards and corridors ($205 billion) Health care, not warfare: Cancel out 100 percent of Americans’ medical debt ($220 billion) Bread, not bombs: Fully fund SNAP and feed hungry families nationwide over the next two years ($200 billion… 1 2026-06-17T06:49:24Z 2026-06-17T06:50:53Z

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